Genotoxicity evaluation of chlorpyrifos

The oral intubation of chlorpyrifos, an extensively used organophosphate insecticide, was tested for its capability to induce in vivo genotoxic upshot in blood lymphocytes of 24 male and female Wistar rats using biomarker of genotoxicity. Rats were orally administered with daily doses 3 and 12 mg/kg body weight (BW) of chlorpyrifos (CPF). The blood lymphocytes were harvested after 7 and 14 days of treatment and subjected to bi-nucleus (BN), multi-nucleus (MN) and single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) to evaluate the extent of DNA damage. Other than BN and MN assay, damage to DNA was assessed through comet length, height, area, head diameter, head DNA percentage and tail DNA percentage along with tail movement. A significant boost was noticed in the frequency of BN cells formation after 12 mg/kg BW CPF treatment. However, the propensity to produce MN cells was significantly more (P ≤ 0.05) in males than that of females. Likewise, the frequency of comet formation, mean comet length, height and area were more (P ≤ 0.05) in males than females even with 12 mg/kgBW. Comet head DNA % and tail length remained non-significant. Olive movement also revealed a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in males than females. The study inferred that the CPF can induce DNA damage in both male and female subjects but more pronounced in the male individuals.