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a b s t r a c tMetolachlor is one of the most intensively used chloroacetamide herbicides. However, its effects on the environment and on non-target animals and humans as well as its interference at a cell/molecular level have not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was: firstly, to evaluate the potential toxicity of metolachlor at a cell/subcellular level by using two in vitro biological model systems (a strain of Bacillus stearothermophilus and rat liver mitochondria); secondly, to evaluate the relative sensibility of these models to xenobiotics to reinforce their suitability for pollutant toxicity assessment. Our results show that metolachlor inhibits growth and impairs the respiratory activity of B. stearothermophilus at concentrations two to three orders of magnitude higher than those at which bacterial cells are affected by other pesticides. Also at concentrations significantly higher than those of other pesticides, metolachlor depressed the respiratory control ratio, membrane potential and respiration of rat liver mitochondria when malate/glutamate or succinate were used as respiratory substrates. Moreover, metolachlor impaired the respiratory activity of rat liver mitochondria in the same concentration range at which it inhibited bacterial respiratory system (0.4-5.0 lmol/mg of protein). In conclusion, the high concentration range at which metolachlor induces toxicity in vitro suggests that this compound is safer than other pesticides previously studied in our laboratory, using the same model systems. The good parallelism between metolachlor effects on both models and the toxicity data described in the literature, together with results obtained in our laboratory with other compounds, indicate the suitability of these systems to assess toxicity in vitro.

The effects of tetrandrine (6,6 0 , 7,12-tetramethoxy-2, 2 0 -dimethyl-berbaman) on the mitochondrial function were assessed on oxidative stress, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), and bioenergetics of rat liver mitochondria. At concentrations lower than 100 nmol/ mg protein, tetrandrine decreased the hydrogen peroxide formation, the extent of lipid peroxidation, the susceptibility to Ca 2+ -induced opening of MPT pore, and inhibited the inner membrane anion channel activity, not significantly affecting the mitochondrial bioenergetics. High tetrandrine concentrations (100-300 nmol/mg protein) stimulated succinate-dependent state 4 respiration, while some inhibition was observed for state 3 and p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone-uncoupled respirations. The respiratory control ratio and the transmembrane potential were depressed but the adenosine diphosphate to oxygen (ADP/O) ratio was less affected. A slight increase of the inner mitochondrial membrane permeability to H + and K + by tetrandrine was also observed. It was concluded that low concentrations of tetrandrine afford protection against liver mitochondria injury promoted by oxidative-stress events, such as hydrogen peroxide production, lipid peroxidation, and induction of MPT. Conversely, high tetrandrine concentrations revealed toxicological effects expressed by interference with mitochondrial bioenergetics, as a consequence of some inner membrane permeability to H + and K + and inhibition of the electron flux in the respiratory chain. The direct immediate protective role of tetrandrine against mitochondrial oxidative stress may be relevant to clarify the mechanisms responsible for its multiple pharmacological actions.

Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is a potent and specific inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), which exhibits cardioprotective action against ischemia/reperfusion injury in intact and isolated heart. The mechanism of its cardioprotective action is not completely understood, but some results suggested that sildenafil exerts cardioprotection through the opening of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channels (mitoKATP). However, the impact of sildenafil citrate per se on isolated heart mitochondrial function is unknown. The goal of this study was to investigate the influence of the compound on mitochondrial function (bioenergetics, Ca2+-induced mitochondrial permeability transition, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation) in an attempt to correlate its known actions with effects on heart mitochondria. It was observed that sildenafil citrate concentrations of up to 50 muM did not significantly affect glutamate/malate-supported respiration in states 2, 3, 4, oligomycin-inhibited state 3, and uncoupled respiration. The respiratory control ratio (RCR), the ADP to oxygen ratio (ADP/O), the transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi), the phosphorylation rate, and the membrane permeability to H+, K+ and Ca2+ were not affected either. However, sildenafil citrate decreased H2O2 generation by mitochondria respiring glutamate/malate, and also decreased the formation of superoxide radical (O2 (*-) ) generated in a hypoxantine/xantine oxidase system. It was concluded that sildenafil citrate concentrations of up to 50 microM do not affect either rat heart mitochondrial bioenergetics or Ca2+-induced mitochondrial permeability transition, but it depresses H2O2 generation by acting as a superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimetic. By preventing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, sildenafil citrate may preserve heart mitochondrial function.

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