In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity Assessments of Carbofuran and Malathion Pesticides on Cat (Felis catus) Fibroblast Cells
Tilak Ram Chandrakar1
, Ajit Pratap Singh2, Bikas Chandra Sarkhel2 and Suvendra Nath Bagchi1*1Department of Biological Science, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur 482001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
2Animal Biotechnology Center, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur 482001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Corresponding Author E-mail: snbagchi_in@yahoo.com
Abstract: Pesticides constitute a different class of chemicals, basically designed for the protection of agricultural crops by controlling a variety of insects, pests, weeds harmful for the agricultural plants. Pesticides are considered as potential chemical mutagens. Experimental data have shown that various agrochemicals have lethal effects, including mutational properties such as chromosomal changes, DNA damage, micronuclei formation or cytotoxicity in the cellular level. This study was designed to examine the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of carbofuran and malathion pesticides on cat (Felis catus) fibroblast cells. The deterrent effects were assessed based on cell viability, chromosomal changes and DNA damage on fibroblast cells in approx. 1×105 cells. The cells were exposed to 0.045 mM - 1.08 mM of carbofuran for 24 h, and 5 mM – 45 mM of malathion for 48 h. The effects were evaluated in terms of DNA damage as changes in comet tail length, comet scores, chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus formation. Lethal doses were determined by using MTT assay whereas crystal violet staining was carried out to assess cytotoxic effects. The LC50 concentrations of carbofuran and malathion were estimated to be 0.42 mM and 20 mM, respectively. The maximum DNA damage was attained at 1.08 mM of carbofuran and 45 mM of malathion. The genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the two chemically different pesticides in F. catus fibroblast cells was evident. While carbofuran was more toxic in terms of lethal doses and exposure time, malathion seemingly promoted genomic instability, albeit at unusually high concentrations.
Keywords: Carbofuran; Cytotoxicity; Felis Catus; Fibroblast Cell Line; Genotoxicity; Malathion Back to TOC