Dimethoate (DM) is an organophosphorus (OP) pesticide with wide use in the pest control. Its persistence in crops and soils could possibly cause adverse health consequences in humans as well as other non-target species. Since molecular studies confirming potential genotoxicity of DM have not been previously reported, the acute in vivo toxicological impact was evaluated in Wistar rats. Significant micronuclei induction and metaphase chromosome abnormalities in bone marrow cells exposed to three different DM doses (20, 40 and 60 mg/kg-bw) at multiple treatment durations (24, 48 and 72 h) indicated positive dose response relationship, confirming its genotoxic and cytotoxic potential. Significant mitotic index decrease was seen in dosed animals compared to vehicle control. The study used peripheral blood comet assay, indicating DM-mediated damage to DNA at all exposure levels in a time responsive manner. These assays were found to be an effective, precise, and fast technique with applied value in biomonitoring studies. Cell cycle and apoptosis along with mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in flow cytometric analyses confirmed DM exposure decreased MMP, affected the cell cycle, and inflicted DNA damage, which led to cellular apoptosis of leukocytes culminating into immunotoxic effects. The in silico experiments consequently augmented that DM showed acceptable binding energy value for Cyclin A2, suggesting that it could inhibit the cell cycle progression by inhibiting cyclin A2.
Keywords: cell cycle; comet assay; dimethoate; genotoxicity; mitochondrial membrane potential.