title: Atrazine triggers hepatic oxidative stress and apoptosis in quails (Coturnix C. coturnix) via blocking Nrf2-mediated defense response.
abstract: The bioaccumulation and environmental persistence of atrazine (ATZ) poses a severe hazard to animal ecosystem. Quail has strong sensitivity to environmental pollutant, thus it is one of the most important ecological pollution indicator. However, true proof for the effects of ATZ exposure on the liver of quails is lacking. To evaluate the liver injury and the role of Nrf2-mediated defense responses during ATZ exposure, male quails were treated with ATZ (0, 50, 250 and 500mg/kg) by oral gavage for 45 days. Histopathological and ultrastructural changes, oxidative stress indices, apoptosis-related factors and Nrf2 pathway were detected. ATZ caused irreparable mitochondrial damage and destroyed morphophysiological integrity of the quail liver. Lower level ATZ (<250mg/kg) activated Nrf2 signaling pathway to protect liver against oxidative stress and apoptosis via enhancing antioxidative activity. Higher level ATZ (>500mg/kg) induced oxidative stress and apoptosis through decrease of non-enzymatic antioxidant, antioxidant enzymes and anti-apoptosis factors and increase of apoptosis factors expressions. Taken together, our results suggested that ATZ-induced hepatotoxicity in quails was associated with blocking Nrf2-mediated defense response.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xue-Nan
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li-Run
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China; Laboratory animal centre, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: Jinlongli@neau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jin-Long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001280:Atrazine / Q000633:toxicity*; D003370:Coturnix / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D001280:Atrazine
keywords: Apoptosis; Atrazine; Nrf2 pathway; Oxidative stress; Quail liver