title: Genotoxicity analysis of the phenoxy herbicide dicamba in mammalian cells in vitro.
abstract: The cytogenetic effects exerted by the phenoxy herbicide dicamba and one of its commercial formulations banvel (57.71% dicamba) were studied in in vitro whole blood human lymphocyte cultures. The genotoxicity of herbicides was measured by analysis of the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and cell-cycle progression assays. Both dicamba and banvel activities were tested within 10.0-500.0 microg/ml doses range. Only concentrations of 200.0 microg/ml of dicamba and 500.0 microg/ml of banvel induced a significant increase in SCE frequency over control values. The highest dose of dicamba tested (500.0 microg/ml) resulted in cell culture cytotoxicity. The cell-cycle kinetics was affected by both test compounds since a significant delay in cell-cycle progression and a significant reduction of the proliferative rate index were observed after the treatment with 100.0 and 200.0 microg/ml of dicamba and 200.0 and 500.0 microg/ml of banvel. For both chemicals, a progressive dose-related inhibition of the mitotic activity of cultures was observed. Moreover, only the mitotic activity statistically differed from control values when doses of both chemicals higher than 100.0 microg/ml were employed. On the basis of our results, the herbicide dicamba is a DNA damage agent and should be considered as a potentially hazardous compound to humans.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Citología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 64 Nro. 3 esq. 120, 1900 La Plata, Argentina. nvgonzal@hotmail.com
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soloneski
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Larramendy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001399:Azure Stains; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003996:Dicamba / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009153:Mutagens; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001399:Azure Stains; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006540:Herbicides; D009153:Mutagens; D003996:Dicamba