Avaliação do Epitélio Nasal e Componentes do Sangue em Modelos Experimentais Submetidos a Exposição ao Herbicida Ácido 2,4-Diclorofenoxiacético

Abstract

Introduction: Increased sugarcane production among the rise in use of herbicides, such as the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), might causes several harm for health. Studies that evaluate the alterations due to the use of this herbicide in the hemogram and in the cells of the nasal mucosa are very important, since the information provided helps in understanding the interactions of substances as the 2,4-D with the human organism. Objective: To analyze blood count components and inflammatory infiltrate in experimental models submitted to nebulization with 2,4-D herbicide, in different time intervals and concentrations. Method: Eighty male Swiss mice were divided into four groups (n = 20): saline, low (3,71 x 10-3 grams of active ingredient per hectare), medium (6,19 x 10-3 grams of active ingredient per hectare) and high concentrations (9,28 x 10-3 grams of active ingredient per hectare). All animals were exposed to the nebulization predefined for each group for 15 minutes during different time intervals: 24, 48, 72 and 192 hours. Blood samples were taken by intracardiac puncture and after euthanasia, the muzzle of each animal was removed for mast cell quantification through toluidine blue staining and analysis of the inflammatory infiltrate by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining (HE). Analysis of normality was conduced using the statistical package Shapiro-Wilk, and for statistical analysis of data Two-way Anova test was performed, considering statistically significant results with p <0.05. Results: All animals in the low concentration group presented microcytosis and hypochromia within 72 hours; Eosinophilia and lymphocytosis within 48 hours. Neutrophilia was observed in the high concentration group over the 192 hour interval. The mast cell count showed significantly increased values in the high concentration group, in the time interval of 48 hours, when compared to the 24 hour period. Conclusion: In conclusion, we observed that in spite of changes in haematological values, the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide can not be considered dose-dependent and time-dependent herbicide, but it might provoke allergic reactions.