In VitroEffects of the Organochlorine Pesticide β-Hexachlorocyclohexane on Bovine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Abstract

The -hexachlorocyclohexane ( -HCH) is a very stable and accumulable isomer of Lindane, a well known organochlorine pesticide. The HCHs were banned in all developed countries but to date high concern still exists for environment, animal and human health due to contaminated sites. In this study, several in vitro tests [cell viability (XTT), trypan blue exclusion (TBE), lactate dehydrogenase release (LDH) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assays] were performed to investigate the toxic effects of exposure to -HCH (from 0.1 to 1000 µM) on bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). All the trials were performed incubating PBMCs for 2 and 7 days. At high concentrations (i.e. 1000 µM), the -HCH approximately halved the number of living cells regardless the exposure time, significantly decreased the cell viability assessed by the XTT assay, and compromised the proliferation potential of PBMCs. At lower -HCH exposure levels (0.1 to 100 µM), particularly after 7 days of exposure, a progressive decrease of cell viability has been observed. These adverse effects were significant at concentrations observed in the blood of cattle reared in polluted areas. The LDH results suggest that -HCH does not clearly affect the integrity of the cell membrane in the range of exposure levels tested. All in all, these findings warn about the risk posed by the long-term exposure to -HCH of farm animals reared in rural areas polluted by -HCH. Further research is needed to deepen our knowledge about the mechanisms through which -HCH affects the PBMCs functionality.

Chromosomal Aberrations in Cattle

“…Cattle cell cultures seems to be suitable for testing the genotoxic effects of chemical agents (e.g., pesticides) as has been shown in works of Lioi et al [ 76 ], Rossi et al [ 77 ], Schwarzbacherova et al [ 78 ], Šivikova et al [ 79 ], and recently Ferré et al [ 80 ]. The authors studied genotoxicity induced by different types of pesticides in bovine lymphocyte cultures in vitro and suggested possible genotoxic effect of glyphosate, vinclozolin, DPX-E9636 [ 76 ], fungicide formulation containing epoxiconazole and fenpropimorph [ 78 ], pure epoxiconazole [ 79 ], as well as cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, and their subsequent mixture [ 80 ].…”