Cytotoxic Effects of the Atrazine Herbicide on Erythrocytes and Liver Damage in Lithobates spectabilis

Abstract

In Mexico, atrazine is one of the herbicides most widely authorized and used in different irrigation districts. Atrazine is a herbicide that contaminates aquatic systems. Previous studies have shown that atrazine causes damage to red blood cells and liver tissue in different aquatic species, including abnormalities in melanomacrophages. However, more information on amphibians is needed, since most of these studies have been done on fish. Furthermore, no study has determined the effect of atrazine on species native to Mexico. Therefore, in this study, we asked what the effects of atrazine are on the erythrocytes and melanomacrophages of the liver in the male frog (Lithobates spectabilis). In the present study, we analyzed (1) the cytotoxicity of atrazine using the micronucleus test, (2) the area of melanomacrophage centers and the presence of melanin, and (3) the characterization of liver damage using histological techniques. Our results show that atrazine is cytotoxic to erythrocytes, increases the area of and melanin presence in melanomacrophage centers, and causes liver damage in male L. spectabilis. Therefore, hepatotoxicity and cytotoxicity are indicators of environmental stress. We suggest monitoring Mexico’s aquatic systems and further analyzing atrazine effects and other pollutants on native species.