Retracted: Sustained Exposure to the Widely Used Herbicide Atrazine: Altered Function and Loss of Neurons in Brain Monoamine Systems

Abstract

The widespread use of atrazine (ATR) and its persistence in the environment have resulted in documented human exposure. Alterations in hypothalamic catecholamines have been suggested as the mechanistic basis of the toxicity of ATR to hormonal systems in females and the reproductive tract in males. Because multiple catecholamine systems are present in the brain, however, ATR could have far broader effects than are currently understood. Catecholaminergic systems such as the two major long-length dopaminergic tracts of the central nervous system play key roles in mediating a wide array of critical behavioral functions. In this study we examined the hypothesis that ATR would adversely affect these brain dopaminergic systems. Male rats chronically exposed to 5 or 10 mg/kg ATR in the diet for 6 months exhibited persistent hyperactivity and altered behavioral responsivity to amphetamine. Moreover, when measured 2 weeks after the end of exposure, the levels of various monoamines and the numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH+) and -negative (TH−) cells measured using unbiased stereology were reduced in both dopaminergic tracts. Acute exposures to 100 or 200 mg/kg ATR given intraperitoneally to evaluate potential mechanisms reduced both basal and potassium-evoked striatal dopamine release. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that ATR can produce neurotoxicity in dopaminergic systems that are critical to the mediation of movement as well as cognition and executive function. Therefore, ATR may be an environmental risk factor contributing to dopaminergic system disorders, underscoring the need for further investigation of its mechanism(s) of action and corresponding assessment of its associated human health risks.

Parkinson's disease and pesticides: a toxicological perspective

“…Roundup), alachlor, the bipyridyl paraquat and atrazine. Paraquat is the only herbicide substantially investigated in relation to PD, although there have been studies on the ability of atrazine to disrupt dopamine homeostasis at high concentrations [20]. A recent case-control study reported that herbicide exposure increased the risk of PD [21].…”

Alteration of dopamine uptake into rat striatal vesicles and synaptosomes caused by an in vitro exposure to atrazine and some of its metabolites

“…Thus, two separate studies found that ATR exposure decreased striatal dopamine (DA) levels and caused a loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive dopaminergic neurons in both the substantia nigra parts compacta (SNpc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in rats (Rodriguez et al, 2005) and mice (Coban and Filipov, 2007). In addition, our laboratory found that in vitro exposure to ATR decreased the tissue levels of DA in striatal slices while media levels of DA and its turnover [(DOPAC + HVA)/DA] ratio were increased.…”

In vitro atrazine-exposure inhibits human natural killer cell lytic granule release

“…Research into the toxic effects of atrazine exposure has revealed atrazine to be directly disruptive to the central nervous system, the endocrine system and the immune system (Cooper et al 1999; Rodriguez et al 2005; Sanderson et al 2001). Mencoboni et al 1992 found that acute intraperitoneal exposure to atrazine reduced hematopoietic progenitors for a short period.…”