Novel insights into the potential mechanisms underlying carbendazim-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats

Carbendazim (CBZ) is a common environmental pollutant that can contaminate food and water and severely damage human health. Some studies revealed the adverse effect of CBZ on different organs, but its detailed toxicity mechanism has not been elucidated yet. Thus, the present study aims to clarify the mechanisms of CBZ-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats. Therefore, we partitioned 40 male Wistar rats into four groups (n = 10): a negative control group and three treatment groups, which received 100, 300, and 600 mg/kg of CBZ. All rats received the treatment daily by oral gavage. We collected blood and organ samples (liver and kidney) at 14 and 28 days postdosing. CBZ caused extensive pathological alterations in both the liver and kidneys, such as cellular degeneration and necrosis accompanied by severe inflammatory reactions in a dose- and time-dependent manner. All the CBZ-treated groups displayed strong tumor necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) immunopositivity. Additionally, CBZ dose-dependently elevated the alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, urea, and creatinine serum levels and reduced the serum albumin levels. Furthermore, CBZ-induced apoptosis, as indicated by the observed Bax gene upregulation and Bcl-2 gene downregulation in both organs. All these changes may be related to oxidative stress, as indicated by the increase in malondialdehyde levels and the decrease in total antioxidant capacity. Our results demonstrate that CBZ-induced dose- and time-dependent hepatorenal damage through oxidative stress, which activated both the NF-κB signaling pathway and Bcl-based programmed cell death.

L-carnitine extenuates endocrine disruption, inflammatory burst and oxidative stress in carbendazim-challenged male rats via upregulation of testicular StAR and FABP9, and downregulation of P38-MAPK pathways

We have addressed in the current study the potential of L-carnitine (LC) to extenuate the reproductive toxic insults of carbendazim (CBZ) in male rats, and the molecular mechanisms whereby carnitine would modify the spermatogenic and steroidogenic derangements invoked by the endocrine disruptor. Herein, animals received daily doses of carbendazim (100 mg/kg) by gavage for 8 weeks. Another CBZ-challenged group was co-supplemented with LC (500 mg/kg, IP) twice weekly for 8 weeks. Sperm quantity and quality (morphology, motility and viability), serum testosterone and gonadotropins, and thyroid hormone levels were assessed. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations were determined by ELISA. Oxidant/antioxidant status in rat testis was investigated via measuring testicular contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Immunohistochemical localizations of the junctional protein; occludin, and inflammatory markers; inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) were further analyzed. A host of transduction genes that regulate spermatogenic and steroidogenic pathways, and their encoded proteins namely, Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR), Fatty acid binding protein 9 (FABP9) and P38-mitogen activated protein kinase (P38-MAPK) were assessed by real time quantitative (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. LC improved rat spermiogram, testicular histological alterations and endocrine perturbances, and modulated genes' expressions and their respective proteins. In conclusion, LC effects appear to reside for the most part on its endocrine-preserving, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties through a myriad of interlaced signal transductions that ultimately recapitulated its beneficial effects on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis.

The Effects of Carbendazim on Acute Toxicity, Development, and Reproduction in Caenorhabditis elegans

Carbendazim, as a fungicide, was commonly used to control fungal diseases in agriculture, forestry, and veterinary medicines. In this study, the acute and reproductive toxicity of carbendazim was assessed using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model in order to preliminarily evaluate the potential risks of this fungicide in agricultural production and application. The results showed that the growth of C. elegans was inhibited by 0.01 μg/L carbendazim. The treatment of 0.1 μg/L carbendazim caused a significant decrease in locomotion behavior and significant damage to the reproductive and antioxidant system, causing the lifespan of nematodes to be drastically shortened. These results provide a better understanding of the environmental risk of carbendazim and raise new concerns about safety.