Short-term exposure of Balb/c mice to buprofezin insecticide induces biochemical, enzymatic, histopathologic and genotoxic damage in liver and kidney tissues

Abstract

Buprofezin is a type-1 chitin synthesis inhibitor insecticide used to control hemipteran insects. It is generally considered safe for humans, but its persistent nature may become a health hazard if long-term exposure takes place. Adverse effects on mammals are remaining to be explored. The present study investigated buprofezin toxicity on liver and kidney tissues of Balb/c mice treated intraperitoneally with 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 µg/kg b.w doses respectively for 24 h. Statistical analyses demonstrated increased activities (p < 0.05) of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine and urea, ROS and TBARS (thiobarbutaric acid) in liver and kidney tissues. Concomitant significant decrease occurred in tissue total protein, antioxidants enzymes, the superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase and non-enzymatic reduced glutathione. Significantly altered histomorphology of liver and kidney tissues revealed excessive tissue damage. Congestion, hepatocyte necrosis, decreases sinusoidal damage in liver, while in kidneys, glomerular shrinkage, capillary damage, widened Bowman’s space and lumens of tubules and collecting ducts and necrosis of tubular epithelial cells were evident. TUNEL assay confirmed apoptosis, the Comet assay demonstrated DNA damage by an increase in the head length, tail length, comet length, tail moment and olive tail moment. The study concludes that buprofezin is highly toxic for mammalian tissues and warrants further biochemical, molecular and cellular studies.

Keywords:

• Insecticides
• buprofezin
• molting inhibitor
• enzyme assays
• TUNEL assay
• Comet assay

Acknowledgements

All research work was designed and conducted in the laboratory of corresponding author except the apoptotic assays that were conducted at molecular toxicology laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division, King’s College, United Kingdom, for which the authors are highly indebted.

Disclosure of interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Part of the present study was conducted at King’s College, London through IRISP grant (1-8/HEC/HRD/2017/8394) provided by the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan to first author.