Effects of imidacloprid on viability and bioenergetic of isolated primary rat hepatocytes

• Grant number: 16/04066-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Erminio Mingatto
• Grantee: Anilda Rufino de Jesus Santos Guimarães
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Tecnológicas. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Dracena. Dracena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The imidacloprid is an insecticide used extensively for controlling pests in crops, animals and rural facilities. Recent data show that it is the third most widely used insecticide in Brazil and is among the most used worldwide. There are several reports in the literature of intoxication caused by the compound and the liver is one of the affected organs. The liver plays a central role in metabolism as it receives nutrients and xenobiotics that are absorbed by it, processed, stored and released into the blood as well as producing and storing bile. The biotransformation of xenobiotics activities are carried out mainly by the liver cytochrome P450. Most of these reactions is associated with detoxification, but they might represent a great problem, because the metabolites produced may be highly reactive and more toxic than the parent compound. Mitochondria are responsible for the synthesis of almost all the ATP necessary for the maintenance of cell structure and function and is the target of substances which can exert its toxic effect in various ways, such as by interfering with bioenergetic or changing the balance between antioxidant system and the production of free radicals, leading to oxidative stress. The hepatocyte is the main functional unit of the liver and has been extensively used to study the metabolism and toxicity of a great variety of chemicals, since it provides characteristics suitable to the study of damage to these substances and their metabolites may cause. Thus, expected to provide relevant information on the mechanisms of hepatotoxicity of imidacloprid and its metabolites, to aid in treatment in case of poisoning by animals and humans.