Toxicidade de agrotóxico organofosforado no sistema auditivo periférico de cobaias: estudo anatômico e funcional

Abstract

The organophosphate pesticides are widely used in agriculture, and the widespread application of these agents, without the appropriate use of bio-security measures, has contributed to environmental degradation and the increased incidence of occupational poisoning, becoming one of the main public health problems in rural areas. Studies show that the ototoxic agents, in addition to the peripheral vestibular and auditory systems compromise, also impair central auditory pathways. Among the major toxic agents that can lead to hearing loss are the solvents, metals, suffocating and organophosphate pesticides. This study examined the acute ototoxic action of a pesticide on the peripheral auditory system. This is a prospective experimental study. We used male albino guinea pigs, divided into three groups, which was administered distilled water (group 1 - control), pesticide - 0.3 mg/Kg/day (group 2), pesticide - 3 mg/Kg/day (group 3), for seven consecutive days. The pesticide used was Tamaron® (methamidophos). The auditory functional evaluation was performed using the Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), both performed before and immediately after the application of the pesticide. The anatomical assessment was performed with scanning electron microscopy. The guinea pigs subjected to pesticide had cochlear morphological changes, with lesions in three turns examined in electron microscopy, which was increased according to the dosage received from the agent. In all animals the DPOAE was present, but it was verified that the signal/noise ratio of the frequencies of 1.500 and 6.000 Hz in DPOAE of groups 2 and 3 showed statistically significant difference when compared to control group, indicating possible cell impairment. There were no statistically significant changes in functional assessment of VIII nerve when evaluated by wave I of ABR. It is concluded that the organophosphorous can be considered as a harmful acute agent of outer hair cells, seen the correlation between the dose applied and the amount of changes observed by electron microscopy, however, the acute exposure to Tamaron® did not cause functional alteration of the peripheral auditory system.