Effects of aldicarb and propoxur on cytotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in CHO-K1 cells

Cytotoxic effects of aldicarb, its sulfone and sulfoxide, and propoxur, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant parameters in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO-K1) cells were determined. d,l-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO) was assayed to determine the role of GSH in the protection against carbamate cytotoxicity. Pre-treatment with 60 μM BSO, induced a significant decrease in the glutathione reductase (GR; 64–141%), the glutathione peroxidase (GPx; 10–30%) and the glutathione S-transferase (GST; 59–93%) activities, and its GSH levels (79–85%), while the oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels significantly increased (64–78%) respect to experiment non-BSO-pretreated. Carbamates BSO pre-treated vs. non-BSO pre-treated showed a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) production (from 13% to 52% vs. 25% to 93%). These data suggest that carbamates could injure CHO-K1 cells via oxidative stress by the increase of MDA production; moreover, BSO enhance the oxidative damage caused by carbamates. However, the glutathione system protects cells from carbamates damage.