title: Histopathological lesions, oxidative stress and genotoxic effects in liver and kidneys following long term exposure of rabbits to diazinon and propoxur.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of diazinon and propoxur on liver and kidneys, following long term exposure of rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten New Zealand white female rabbits were used. The animals were divided into 5 groups, consisting of 2 animals each. Diazinon (groups 1 and 2) and propoxur (groups 3 and 4) were administered at 2 different doses, and group 5 served as the control group. Histopathological lesions in the liver and kidneys, oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both pesticides induced focal inflammation and fibrosis in the liver and kidneys. The low dose of propoxur induced a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), with no difference in reduced glutathione (GSH), while the high dose of propoxur induced an increase in GSH with no change in TAC. For diazinon-exposed animals, the opposite findings were observed. Both diazinon and propoxur induced a statistically significant oxidative DNA damage in the liver and kidneys and a subsequent increase in telomerase activity in these tissues, possibly as a counteracting mechanism. Furthermore, systemic inflammation, as depicted by the dose-dependent increase in telomerase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), was observed in propoxur treated animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histopathological lesions, oxidative stress and genotoxic effects were induced in liver and kidneys following long term exposure of rabbits to diazinon and propoxur.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hazardous Substances, Mixtures and Articles, Directorate of Environment, General Chemical State Laboratory of Greece, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsitsimpikou
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzatzarakis
authors.forename: Persefoni
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fragkiadaki
authors.forename: Leda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovatsi
authors.forename: Polychronis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stivaktakis
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalogeraki
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kouretas
authors.forename: Aristidis M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tsatsakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D003976:Diazinon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D001074:Propoxur / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D001074:Propoxur; D003976:Diazinon