Induction of micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities in tadpoles of the common toad (Rhinella arenarum) treated with the herbicides Liberty® and glufosinate-ammonium.
The assessment of micronucleated erythrocytes (ME) in blood represents a widely used method for the detection of chromosomal damage by chemical agents, such as herbicides that may occur as water contaminants. We investigated the changes in some circulating blood-cell parameters of tadpoles of the common toad (Rhinella arenarum) that were exposed during 48 or 96 h to three sub-lethal concentrations (3.75, 7.5, and 15 mg/L) of a commercial formulation of a glufosinate-ammonium (GLA)-based herbicide (Liberty(®), LY(®)) as well as to the corresponding active ingredient GLA. The frequency of ME and other erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities (ENA, i.e., lobed nuclei, binucleates or segmented nuclei, kidney-shaped nuclei, notched nuclei, and picnotic nuclei) were evaluated and compared with positive (cyclophosphamide, CP, 40 mg/L) and negative (de-chlorinated tap water) controls. The results indicate that the exposure of R. arenarum tadpoles to LY(®) induces a concentration-dependent increase in ME frequency. The ENA frequency at 48 h was also significantly higher than that in the negative control group for all the chemicals assayed (CP, LY(®) and GLA) whereas at 96 h, increases in ENA over the negative control group were found only for CP and GLA (7.5 mg/L). Our study demonstrates that the commercial formulation of a GLA-based herbicide induces micronucleus formation in R. arenarum tadpoles, in contrast to the active ingredient. According to these results, the inert ingredients of the commercial formulation played an important role in the production of genotoxic damage in erythrocytes of amphibian tadpoles.
National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Faculty of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, (FBCB-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje el Pozo s/n, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: lajmanovich@hotmail.com.
Rafael C
RC
Lajmanovich
Faculty of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, (FBCB-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje el Pozo s/n, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
Mariana C
MC
Cabagna-Zenklusen
National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Faculty of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, (FBCB-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje el Pozo s/n, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
Andrés M
AM
Attademo
National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Faculty of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, (FBCB-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje el Pozo s/n, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
Celina M
CM
Junges
National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Faculty of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, (FBCB-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje el Pozo s/n, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
Paola M
PM
Peltzer
Faculty of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, (FBCB-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje el Pozo s/n, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
Agustín
A
Bassó
Faculty of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, (FBCB-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje el Pozo s/n, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina; Institute of Technological Development for the Chemical Industry (INTEC-UNL-CONICET), Güemes 3450, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
Eduardo
E
Lorenzatti
D000613:Aminobutyrates / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002022:Bufo arenarum / Q000254:growth & development*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000187:drug effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity
D000613:Aminobutyrates; D006540:Herbicides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C003121:phosphinothricin
Active ingredient; Commercial formulation; Erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities; Herbicides; Micronuclei