Mutagenicity, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicity of glyphosate and fipronil commercial formulations in Amazon turtles neonates (Podocnemis expansa)

Author(s)

Mendonca, Juliana dos Santos ; de Almeida, Julio Cesar Neves ; Vieira, Lucelia Goncalves ; Hirano, Liria Queiroz Luz ; Santos, Andre Luiz Quagliatto ; Andrade, Denis Vieira ; Malafaia, Guilherme ; de Oliveira Jr, Robson Jose ; Beletti, Marcelo Emilio

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Science of The Total Environment; v. 898, p. 12-pg., 2023-11-10.

Abstract

Pesticides are considered one of the main causes of the population decline of reptiles worldwide, with freshwater turtles being particularly susceptible to aquatic contamination. In this context, we investigated the potential mutagenic, hepatotoxic, and neurotoxic effects in neonates of Podocnemis expansa exposed to substrate contaminated with different concentrations of glyphosate and/or fipronil during embryonic development. Eggs collected from the natural environment were artificially incubated in sand moistened with pure water, water added with glyphosate Atar 48 & REG; at concentrations of 65 and 6500 & mu;g/L (groups G1 and G2, respectively), water added with fipronil Regent & REG; 800WG at 4 and 400 & mu;g/L (groups F1 and F2, respectively) and, water added with the combination of 65 & mu;g/L glyphosate and 4 & mu;g/L fipronil or with 6500 & mu;g/L glyphosate and 400 & mu;g/L fipronil (groups GF1 and GF2, respectively). For mutagenicity analysis, we evaluated the frequency of micronuclei (MN) and other erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities (ENAs), while for evaluation of hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity, livers and encephalon were analyzed for histopathological alterations. Exposure to pesticides, alone or in combination, increased the frequency of erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities, particularly blebbed nuclei, moved nuclei, and notched nuclei. Individuals exposed to fipronil exhibited congestion and inflammatory infiltrate in their liver tissue, while, in the encephalon, congestion, and necrosis were present. Our study confirms that the incubation of eggs in substrate polluted with glyphosate and fipronil causes histopathological damage and mutagenic alteration in P. expansa, highlighting the importance of using different biomarkers to evaluate the ecotoxicological effects of these pesticides, especially in oviparous animals. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/10910-0 - Physiological capacities and resilience facing climate change: exploring the functional dimension in ectothermic vertebrates
• Grantee: Kênia Cardoso Bícego
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/04190-9 - Thermal physiology and water balance in anurans along an altitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Rainforest
• Grantee: Denis Otavio Vieira de Andrade
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/05839-2 - Anurans of the Atlantic Forest: incorporating ecophysiological information to evaluate contemporary patterns of habitat occupancy and forecast for a warmer future
• Grantee: Denis Otavio Vieira de Andrade
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research