In vivo neurotoxic effects of emamectin benzoate in male mice: evaluation with enzymatic and biomolecular multi-biomarkers

Abstract

The study of the toxic effects of emamectin benzoate (EMB) was conducted in male mice. Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups; control group, EMB25 group (1/30 LD₅₀ = 25 mg/kg/day), EMB50 group (1/15 LD₅₀ = 50 mg/kg/day), and EMB100 group (1/7.5 LD₅₀ = 100 mg/kg/day). Control group received water (placebo), and EMB groups were administered by oral gavage for 14 days. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and protein carbonyl (PC) levels, and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPases) enzymes, which are ion transport enzymes (Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase, Ca⁺² ATPase, Mg⁺² ATPase), acetylcholinesterase (AChE, neurotoxicity biomarker), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme activities (inflammatory biomarker), were measured by spectrophotometric methods. 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine level (8-OHdG, DNA oxidation biomarker) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent analysis (ELISA) technique. The results showed a decrease in SOD, CAT and GPx enzyme activities in the brain tissue and an increase in GST enzyme activity in the EMB groups compared to the control group. Meanwhile, the enzyme activities of the ion transport enzymes Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase, Ca⁺² ATPase, and Mg⁺² ATPase, and AChE enzyme activity showed significant inhibition. In addition, MPO enzyme activity, 8-OHdG, PC, and TBARS levels were increased. The results showed that dose-dependent EMB exposure induced different physiological processes with enzymatic and biomolecular multi-biomarkers in the brain tissue of male mice and caused neurotoxic effects.

Keywords: 8-OHdG; AChE; Brain; Emamectin benzoate; Oxidative stress; ROS.