title: Cardiotoxicity in rabbits after a low-level exposure to diazinon, propoxur, and chlorpyrifos.
abstract: Lethal cardiac complications leading to death and various arrhythmias have been reported after organophosphate and/or carbamate poisonings. The present study focuses on the long-term effects of repeated low-level exposure to diazinon, propoxur, and chlorpyrifos (CPF) on cardiac function in rabbits. The yearly based experimental scheme of exposure consisted of two oral administration periods, lasting 3 months and 1 month each, interrupted by an 8-month washout period (total duration 12 months). At the end of the experimental scheme, the rabbits underwent an echocardiographic evaluation under sedation, after which they were killed and the tissue and serum samples were collected. A mild localized cardiotoxic effect was established by echocardiography for the three pesticides tested. Severe histological alterations were identified, especially in the diazinon-treated animals in agreement with increased persistence of this pesticide established in the cardiac tissue. In addition, all pesticides tested increased the oxidative stress and oxidative modifications in the genomic DNA content of the cardiac tissues, each one following a distinct mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece Authors with equal contribution.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zafiropoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Karditsa, TermaTavropou, Karditsa, Greece Authors with equal contribution.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsarouhas
authors.affiliation: Department of Dangerous Substances, Mixtures and Articles, Directorate of Environment, General Chemical State Laboratory of Greece, Athens, Greece Authors with equal contribution.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsitsimpikou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Crete, Voutes, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fragkiadaki
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece Authors with equal contribution.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Germanakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical School Voutes-Stavrakia, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsardi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Crete, Voutes, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maravgakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goutzourelas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Crete, Voutes, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vasilaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kouretas
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Aw
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Crete, Voutes, Heraklion, Greece toxlab.uoc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Am
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsatsakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D066126:Cardiotoxicity / Q000209:etiology*; D004390:Chlorpyrifos / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D003976:Diazinon / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D001074:Propoxur / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D011817:Rabbits; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D001074:Propoxur; D019098:Telomerase; D004390:Chlorpyrifos; D003976:Diazinon
keywords: Propoxur; cardiac dysfunction; chlorpyrifos; diazinon