Avermectin induced liver injury in pigeon: Mechanisms of apoptosis and oxidative stress

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 98; pp. 74 - 81
• Main Authors: Zhu, Wen-Jun, Li, Ming, Liu, Ci, Qu, Jian-Ping, Min, Ya-Hong, Xu, Shi-Wen, Li, Shu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - toxicity; antibiotics; antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Apoptosis; Applied ecology; Avermectin; avermectins; Aves; Biological and medical sciences; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Caspase 8 - metabolism; caspase-3; chromatin; Columbidae - metabolism; diet; DNA Damage; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Fas Ligand Protein - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glutathione peroxidase; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Ivermectin - analogs & derivatives; Ivermectin - toxicity; Liver; Liver - cytology; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; malondialdehyde; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; messenger RNA; Mitochondria, Liver - drug effects; Mitochondria, Liver - ultrastructure; Oxidative Stress; Pigeon; pigeons; pollution; Protein Carbonylation; superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; toxicity; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Oxidative stress; DNPH; GSH-Px; Liver; SOD; MDA; EDTA; Pigeon; FasL; DPC; ROS; AVM; Avermectin; PCO; Apoptosis; Toxicity; Columba livia; Pesticides; Lactone; Mechanism; Macrocycle; Tissue; Vertebrata; Antibiotic; Cell death; Animal; Avermectins; Parasiticide; Aves; Biopesticide; Mechanism of action; Hepatotoxicity; Microbial insecticide; DNA–protein crosslinks; 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine; fas ligand; superoxide dismutase; reactive oxygen species; malondialdehyde; ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid; glutathione peroxidase; protein carbonyl
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.09.021

Extensive use of avermectin (AVM) can result in environment pollution, and it is important to evaluate the potential impact this antibiotic has on ecological systems. Few published literatures have discussed the liver injury mechanisms induced by AVM on birds. In this study, pigeons were exposed to feed containing AVM (0, 20, 40 and 60mg/kg diet) for 30, 60, 90 days respectively. The results showed that AVM increased the number of apoptosis and the expression level of caspase-3, 8, fas mRNA in the liver of pigeons. Ultrastructural alterations, including mitochondrial damage and chromatin aggregation, become severe with increase exposure dose. Exposure to AVM induced significant changes in antioxidant enzyme {superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)} activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, augmented protein carbonyl (PCO) content and DNA-protein crosslink (DPC) coefficient, in a concentration-dependent manner in the liver of pigeons. Our results show that AVM has toxic effect in pigeon liver, and the mechanism of injury caused by AVM is closely related to apoptosis and oxidative stress. [Display omitted] •Avermectin induced apoptosis in liver of pigeon.•Mitochondria were damaged by avermectin in liver of pigeon.•Avermectin inhibited the activities of antioxidant enzymes in liver of pigeon.