Atrazine-induced apoptosis of splenocytes in BALB/C mice.
BACKGROUND
Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethytlamino-6-isopropylamine-1,3,5-triazine; ATR), is the most commonly applied broad-spectrum herbicide in the world. Unintentional overspray of ATR poses an immune function health hazard. The biomolecular mechanisms responsible for ATR-induced immunotoxicity, however, are little understood. This study presents on our investigation into the apoptosis of splenocytes in mice exposed to ATR as we explore possible immunotoxic mechanisms.


METHODS
Oral doses of ATR were administered to BALB/C mice for 21 days. The histopathology, lymphocyte apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins from the Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) apoptotic pathway were examined from spleen samples.


RESULTS
Mice administered ATR exhibited a significant decrease in spleen and thymus weight. Electron microscope histology of ultrathin sections of spleen revealed degenerative micromorphology indicative of apoptosis of splenocytes. Flow cytometry revealed that the percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes increased in a dose-dependent manner after ATR treatment. Western blots identified increased expression of Fas, FasL and active caspase-3 proteins in the treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
ATR is capable of inducing splenocytic apoptosis mediated by the Fas/FasL pathway in mice, which could be the potential mechanism underlying the immunotoxicity of ATR.
Department of Toxicology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150081, PR China.
Xiaofeng
X
Zhang
Mingqiu
M
Wang
Shuying
S
Gao
Rui
R
Ren
Jing
J
Zheng
Yang
Y
Zhang
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001280:Atrazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000032:analysis; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006540:Herbicides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis
D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D006540:Herbicides; D019014:fas Receptor; D053148:Caspase 3; D001280:Atrazine