In vivo toxicity, lipid peroxide lowering, and glutathione, ascorbic acid and copper elevation induced in mouse liver by low dose of oxine-copper, a fungicide

While oxine-copper (OxCu) is generally used as an agricultural fungicide an d induces a harmful effect on ecosystems, little information is available r egarding a toxic effect of OxCu on mammals. In this article, we examined in vivo induction of toxicity and change of levels of glutathione and ascorbi c acid, major biological antioxidants, lipid peroxide and copper (Cu) in li ver and kidney 4 h and 24 h after intraperitoneal administration of OxCu at a low dose (0.05 mmol/kg) to mice. Increased hepatic ascorbic acid and Cu levels were found at 4 h after the treatment. In addition, body weight chan ge was lowered and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity was elevate d significantly compared to control at 24 h after the treatment, suggesting induction of systemic and hepatic toxicity respectively. These were accomp anied by lowered lipid peroxide level and enhanced glutathione, ascorbic ac id and Cu levels in the mouse liver. On the other hand, OxCu induced no ele vation in serum urea nitrogen concentration 4 h and 24 h after the treatmen t, suggesting no induction of nephrotoxicity, accompanied by no change in r enal lipid peroxide, glutathione, ascorbic acid and Cu levels. These result s suggest that hepatic Cu elevation may induce hepatotoxicity and no renal Cu elevation may lead to no induction of nephrotoxicity after the treatment with OxCu.