HERBICIDE-INDUCED MITOCHONDRIAL AND CELLULAR LIVER TOXICITY: A REVIEW OF PARAQUAT, DINOSEB, AND 2, 4-D EFFECTS

This review articleis a synthesis of the toxic effects induced by dinoseb, 2, 4-D, and paraquat on liver mitochondrial bioenergetics and hepatic cells. Liver mitochondria and hepatocytes were used as models for toxicological studies, owing to the similarities of the organization and function among mammalian species and the particular role of the liver in cell detoxification mechanisms. The interactions of these herbicides, all of which belong to different chemical families, on mitochondrial respiration, membrane potential, redox complex activities, ATPase, and ATP synthase activities are reviewed and analyzed in detail. Additionally, the cytotoxic effects on isolated hepatocytes regarding cell viability, glutathione status, adenine and pyridine nucleotide contents, lipid peroxidation, protein thiols, and intracellular calcium are discussed. This review article calls attention to the role of mitochondria in the development of cellular toxicity by these herbicides.