Hematological and biochemical investigations on the effect of curcumin and Thymoquinone in male mice exposed to Thioacetamide

Currently, living organisms are increasingly exposed to many toxic chemicals in the environment. These substances pose a threat to human life, other living organisms and ecosystem. In fact, there is an increasing requirement to search for safe therapeutic sources today. Medicinal plants and natural products have become of great importance globally because of their therapeutic potential and medicinal properties, as well as their availability and the absence of harmful side effects for most of them. The present study was designed to explore the potential protective effect of curcumin (CUR) and thymoquinone (TQ) in male rats exposed to thioacetamide (TAA). The experimental mice were divided into eight groups. Group 1 was served as control. Group 2 was exposed to 50 mg/ kg body weight of TAA. Group 3 was exposed to CUR and TAA. Mice of group 4 were treated with TQ and TAA. Mice of group 5 were exposed to CUR plus TQ and TAA. Group 6 was supplemented with CUR. Group 7 was subjected to TQ. Mice of group 8 were treated with CUR and TQ. Hematological and biochemical alterations were evaluated after one month. Significant increases of white blood corpuscles (WBC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) values were observed in group 2, while the values of red blood corpuscles (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb(, hematocrit (Hct), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were statistically decreased. Treatment with CUR, TQ and their combination inhibited the hematological and biochemical alterations induced by TAA toxicity. Moreover, the most protective effect was observed in mice treated with CUR plus TQ. These new results suggested that the protective effect of CUR and TQ attributed to their antioxidant properties.     

Hepatic antioxidant status and hematological parameters in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss,after chronic exposure to carbamazepine

Recently, residual pharmaceuticals are generally recognized as relevant sources of aquatic environmental pollutants. However, the toxicological effects of these contaminants have not been adequately researched. In this study, the chronic toxic effect of carbamazepine (CBZ), an anticonvulsant drug commonly present in surface and ground water, on hepatic antioxidant status and hematological parameters of rainbow trout were investigated. Fish were exposed at sublethal concentrations of CBZ (1.0 μg/l, 0.2 mg/l and 2.0 mg/l) for 7, 21 and 42 days. Compared to the control group, fish exposed at higher concentration (0.2 mg/l or 2.0 mg/l) of CBZ showed significantly higher levels of hemoglobin, ammonia and glucose, and significantly higher plasma enzymes activities. During the exposure duration, erythrocyte count, hematocrit, mean erythrocyte hemoglobin, mean erythrocyte volume, mean color concentration and total protein content in all groups were not significantly different. At the highest test concentration (2.0 mg/l) of CBZ, oxidative stress was apparent as reflected by the significant higher lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl levels in liver after 42 days exposure, associated with an inability to induce antioxidant enzymes activities including superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. After 42 days exposure, reduced glutathione level was significantly decreased in the fish exposed at 0.2 mg/l CBZ, compared with the control. In short, CBZ-induced physiological and biochemical responses in fish were reflected in the oxidant stress indices and hematological parameters. These results suggest that hepatic antioxidant responses and hematological parameter could be used as potential biomarkers for monitoring residual pharmaceuticals present in aquatic environment.     

Protective effect of some plant oils on diazinon induced hepatorenal toxicity in male rats

Environmental pollution and exposure to environmental pollutants are still some of the major global health issues. Pesticides have been linked to a wide range of health hazards. The toxicity of pesticides depends on several factors such as its chemical properties, doses, exposure period, exposure methods, gender, genetics, age, nutritional status and physiological case of exposed individuals. Medicinal plants, natural products and nutrition continue to play a central role in the healthcare system of large proportions of the world’s population. Alternative medicine plays an important role in health services around the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of olive, sesame and black seed oils on hepatorenal toxicity induced by diazinon (DZN) in male rats. The experimental animals were divided into nine groups. The first group served as control. The second group was exposed to DZN. The third group was treated with olive oil and DZN. Rats of the fourth group were subjected to sesame oil and DZN. Rats of the fifth group were exposed to black seed oil and DZN. The sixth, seventh and eighth groups were supplemented with olive, sesame and black seed oils respectively. Rats of the ninth group were treated with corn oil. Levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, total bilirubin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and malondialdehyde were significantly increased in rats exposed to DZN. Moreover, levels of serum glutathione and superoxide dismutase were significantly decreased. Several histopathological changes were observed in the structures of liver and kidney due to DZN exposure. This study showed that these oils attenuated the physiological disturbances and histopathological alterations induced by DZN intoxication. Moreover, the antioxidant properties of these oils support the bioactive roles of its protective effects on DZN toxicity. This study therefore suggests that these oils could be used as preventive factors against the toxicity of DZN due to its antioxidant properties.     

人脐带间充质干细胞静脉输注小鼠的安全性

目的探讨C57／BL6J小鼠重复多次尾静脉输注人脐带间充质干细胞后的免疫反应和毒性。方法将SPF级别的32只C57／BL6J小鼠随机分为阴性对照组、细胞移植组,每组16只,雌雄各半,细胞移植组小鼠尾静脉注射分离培养的第5代人脐带间充质干细胞,一次5×10。／只,每周注射一次,连续注射4周;阴性对照组每次注射相同容积的PBS。注射后后观察小鼠的一般症状,末次注射后i周、4周进行血细胞计数、血生化、免疫反应指标、脏器质量测定和组织病理学检查。结果细胞移植组小鼠血细胞计数、血生化、脏器重量和脏器系数与对照组无显著性差异（P〉0．05）,脏器组织病理学在光镜下检查结果与对照组无形态学差别,以及免疫结果测定（T细胞亚群CD3＋、CD4＋、CD8＋及CD4＋／CD8＋）与对照组无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论人脐带间充质干细胞重复多次尾静脉输注C57／BL6J小鼠是安全可行的,对受者无明显免疫反应和毒副作用。     

Prenatal Exposure to Carbamazepine Reduces Hippocampal and Cortical Neuronal Cell Population in New-Born and Young Mice without Detectable Effects on Learning And Memory

Pregnant women with epilepsy have to balance maternal and fetal risks associated with uncontrolled seizures against the potential teratogenic effects from antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Carbamazepine (CBZ) is among the four most commonly used AEDs for treatment of pregnant epileptic women. We previously reported that new-born children had a decreased head circumference after in utero CBZ exposure. This study investigates how prenatal exposure of CBZ influences the number of neurons in new-born and young mouse hippocampus, amygdala and cortex cerebri. Clinical studies describe inconclusive results on if prenatal CBZ treatment influences cognition. Here we investigate this issue in mice using two well characterized cognitive tasks, the passive avoidance test and the Morris water maze test. Prenatal exposure of CBZ reduced the number of neurons (NeuN-immunoreactive cells) in the new-born mouse hippocampus with 50% compared to non-exposed mice. A reduction of neurons (20%) in hippocampus was still observed when the animals were 5 weeks old. These mice also displayed a 25% reduction of neurons in cortex cerebri. Prenatal CBZ treatment did not significantly impair learning and memory measured in the passive avoidance test and in the Morris water maze. However, these mice displayed a higher degree of thigmotaxic behaviour than the control mice. The body weight of prenatally CBZ exposed five-week old mice were lower compared to control mice not exposed to CBZ (p = 0.001). In conclusion, prenatal exposure to CBZ reduces the number of neurons dramatically in areas important for cognition such as hippocampus and cortex, without severe impairments on learning and memory. These results are in line with some clinical studies, reporting that CBZ has minor negative effects on cognition. The challenge for future studies are to segment out what possible effects a reduction of neurons could have on different types of cognition, like intellectual ability and social interaction.     

Dissociation of the protective immune response in the mouse to Strongyloides ratti

The generation of protective immunity by various stages in the life-cycle of Strongyloides ratti and the phases against which resistance is directed has been examined in murine strongyloidiasis. Mice were exposed to natural, complete infections, were treated with thiabendazole (which largely resembles the natural infection), were treated with cambendazole (which restricts infection to the larval stage), or infected directly by oral transfer of adult worms. Mice that were infected with infective larvae alone did not become resistant to infective larvae or the complete infection but were resistant to adult worms implanted directly into the gut. Mice exposed to adult worms alone were resistant to natural infections and adults worms implanted directly but were not resistant to infective larvae. On the other hand, mice that had received prior natural infections showed evidence of resistance to infective larvae, adult worms, and natural, complete infections. It is concluded that there is immunological cross-reactivity between infective larvae and adult worms but that under certain circumstances the infective larvae are able to evade the host's protective immune response.     

Effect of grapeseed oil on diazinon-induced physiological and histopathological alterations in rats

The pollution of environment by toxic chemicals is a global and chronic problem. Human health risk due to exposure to chemical pollutants is constantly increasing. Pesticides form major toxic chemicals in environment. Scientifically, there is an obviously correlation between the exposure to pesticides and appearance of many diseases. Currently, the significance of natural products for health and medicine has been formidable. The present study investigated the effect of grapeseed oil in male rats exposed to diazinon. The experimental rats were divided into five groups. The rats of the first group were served as control. The experimental animals of the second group were exposed to diazinon (DZN). The animals of the third group were supplemented with grapeseed oil and treated with DZN. The rats of the fourth group were supplemented with grapeseed oil. The experimental rats of the fifth group were supplemented with corn oil. Hematobiochemical and histopathological evaluations were chosen as indicators of DZN toxicity and protective role of grapeseed oil. In rats exposed only to DZN, the levels of serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatinine, urea nitrogen, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were statistically increased, while the level of serum total protein was significantly decreased. Moreover, the histopathological evaluations of the liver, kidney and testis showed that DZN causes several severe alterations. Pretreatment with grapeseed oil exhibited a protective role against DZN toxicity which confirmed by the inhibition of hematobiochemical and histopathological changes due to DZN exposure. Additionally, the present study suggests that the effect of grapeseed oil supplementation against DZN toxicity may be attributed to the antioxidant role of its constituents.     

Cholinesterase inhibition and its association with hematological,biochemical and oxidative stress markers in chronic pesticide exposed agriculture workers

The present study investigated the pesticide induced adverse health effects, hematological and biochemical alterations among agriculture workers. A cross sectional study of 51 agriculture workers and 54 unexposed subjects was carried out to evaluate hematological and biochemical alterations in blood. Pesticide exposed individuals were reported adverse clinical outcomes, including tingling, muscle pain, headache, skin disease, etc. A significant alterations in the level of hematological parameters, liver and renal dysfunctions markers and lipid profile suggested hematological, hepatic and renal dysfunctions. A significant decrease in the activity of acetylcholinesterase, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase and increased level of lipid peroxidation was also observed in these agriculture workers. Correlation coefficient analysis showed a positive correlation of chronic exposure with most of the hematological and biochemical parameters. The results demonstrate that the chronic exposure of pesticides cause reduction in the acetylcholinesterase activity and enhanced the risk of adverse clinical outcomes in agriculture workers.     

Lack of a co‐promotion effect of 60 Hz circularly polarized magnetic fields on spontaneous development of lymphoma in AKR mice

The present study was conducted to investigate the possible effect of 60 Hz circularly polarized magnetic fields (MFs) as promoters of genetically initiated lymphoma in AKR mice. One hundred sixty female animals were divided into four different groups. They were exposed to four different intensities of circularly polarized MFs. Animals received exposure to 60 Hz circularly polarized MF at field strengths (rms‐value) of 0 µT (sham control, T1, Group I), 5 µT(T2, Group II), 83.3 µT (T3, Group III), or 500 µT(T4, Group IV), for 21 h/day from the age of 4–6 weeks to the age of 44–46 weeks. There were no exposure‐related changes in mean survival time, clinical signs, body weights, hematological values, micronucleus assay, gene expression arrays, analysis of apoptosis, and necropsy findings. At histopathological examination, lymphoma was seen in all the groups. The tumor incidence was 31/40(78%), 30/40(75%), 32/40(80%), and 31/40(78%) in sham control, 5, 83.3, and 500 µT groups, respectively. However, there were no differences in the tumor incidence between the sham control (T1) and circularly polarized MF exposure groups (T2–T4). In conclusion, there was no evidence that exposure to 60 Hz circularly polarized MF strengths up to 500 µT promoted lymphoma in AKR mice. Bioelectromagnetics 31:130–139, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The hazardous effects of formalin and alcoholic fixative in mice: A public health perspective study

Formalin is used for different purposes due to its preservation capability. But continuous exposure to formalin may result various health related issues leading to cancer and death. A new alcohol-based fixative, EMA (ethanol, methanol and acetic acid = 3:1:1) could be a safer option in this regard. To compare the health hazards of formalin and EMA, a total 15 adult male mice were randomly distributed into three groups- exposure groups (formalin and EMA) and control group. The mice were subjected to natural inhalation exposure of the fixatives followed by behavioral depression test (forced swimming test), histopathology and serum biochemical tests. Our results showed that the hazardous effects of formalin were remarkably higher than that of EMA. Formalin exposed group showed severe depression (P < 0.001) in the forced swimming test compared to EMA and control groups. Histopathologically, diffuse lymphocytic infiltrations around the lung alveoli and bronchioles and severe inflammation with accumulation of reactive cells in the cerebral cortex were detected in the formalin exposed group, whereas little or no inflammation with fibrinous exudates in the bronchioles was reported in the EMA group and no inflammatory cells were detected in the cerebral tissues. The serum biochemical analysis of the inflammatory mediators (Interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein) revealed that both significantly (P < 0.001) increased in the formalin exposed group compared to EMA and control groups. These results confer that EMA could be a safer option to reduce health hazards of formalin in the workplace environment.     

Importance and regulation of the colonic mucus barrier in a mouse model of colitis

The colonic mucus layer serves as an important barrier and prevents colonic bacteria from invading the mucosa and cause inflammation. The regulation of colonic mucus secretion is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the mucus barrier in induction of colitis. Furthermore, regulation of mucus secretion by luminal bacterial products was studied. The colon of anesthetized Muc2(-/-), Muc1(-/-), wild-type (wt), and germ-free mice was exteriorized, the mucosal surface was visualized, and mucus thickness was measured with micropipettes. Colitis was induced by DSS (dextran sodium sulfate, 3%, in drinking water), and disease activity index (DAI) was assessed daily. The colonic mucosa of germ-free and conventionally housed mice was exposed to the bacterial products LPS (lipopolysaccharide) and PGN (peptidoglycan). After DSS induction of colitis, the thickness of the firmly adherent mucus layer was significantly thinner after 5 days and onward, which paralleled the increment of DAI. Muc2(-/-) mice, which lacked firmly adherent mucus, were predisposed to colitis, whereas Muc1(-/-) mice were protected with significantly lower DAI by DSS compared with wt mice. The mucus barrier increased in Muc1(-/-) mice in response to DSS, whereas significantly fewer T cells were recruited to the inflamed colon. Mice housed under germ-free conditions had an extremely thin adherent colonic mucus layer, but when exposed to bacterial products (PGN or LPS) the thickness of the adherent mucus layer was quickly restored to levels observed in conventionally housed mice. This study demonstrates a correlation between decreasing mucus barrier and increasing clinical symptoms during onset of colitis. Mice lacking colonic mucus (Muc2(-/-)) were hypersensitive to DSS-induced colitis, whereas Muc1(-/-) were protected, probably through the ability to increase the mucus barrier but also by decreased T cell recruitment to the afflicted site. Furthermore, the ability of bacteria to regulate the thickness of the colonic mucus was demonstrated.     

Daily torpor in mice: high foraging costs trigger energy-saving hypothermia

Many animal species employ natural hypothermia in seasonal (hibernation) and daily (torpor) strategies to save energy. Facultative daily torpor is a typical response to fluctuations in food availability, but the relationship between environmental quality, foraging behaviour and torpor responses is poorly understood. We studied body temperature responses of outbred ICR (CD-1) mice exposed to different food reward schedules, simulating variation in habitat quality. Our main comparison was between female mice exposed to low foraging-cost environments and high-cost environments. As controls, we pair-fed a group of inactive animals (no-cost treatment) the same amount of pellets as high-cost animals. Mice faced with high foraging costs were more likely to employ torpor than mice exposed to low foraging costs, or no-cost controls (100% versus 40% and 33% of animals, respectively). While resting-phase temperature showed a non-significant decrease in high-cost animals, torpor was not associated with depressions in active-phase body temperature. These results demonstrate (i) that mice show daily torpor in response to poor foraging conditions; (ii) that torpor incidence is not attributable to food restriction alone; and (iii) that high levels of nocturnal activity do not preclude the use of daily torpor as an energy-saving strategy. The finding that daily torpor is not restricted to conditions of severe starvation puts torpor in mice in a more fundamental ecological context.     

Neurobehavioral protective properties of curcumin against the mercury chloride treated mice offspring

In the present investigation, the effects of mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) on the neurobehavioural and neurochemical disruption in mice offspring was studied. A total of thirty pregnant mice were divided into six groups. Group II and III were received 150 and 300 ppm of curcumin respectively. Group IV was given 10 ppm of HgCl₂. Group V and VI were given 10 ppm of HgCl₂ with 150 and 300 ppm of curcumin respectively. In this study, treatment started from day one of pregnancy and continued until post-natal day 15 (PD 15). During weaning period, three pups in each experimental group were marked and were subjected to behavioral, physical and biochemical tests. The results revealed decreased body weight, delayed hair growth and eye opening. HgCl₂ treated pups taken more time in righting, rotating reflexes to return to normal placement, cliff avoidance compared to that of control group. HgCl₂ exposed pups showed memory and learning deficits. Anxiety behavior in treating pups was increased. Biochemical investigations showed decreased level of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in forebrain of treated pups compared to the control and curcumin groups. The protective effect of curcumin doses were significant compared to HgCl₂ group. The results indicated that the administration of curcumin showed effective activity towards biochemical and behavioral disorders obtained with the HgCl₂ treated animals. Overall, the curcumin administration revealed increased cognetion and anxiety behaviors in the treated animals. Conclusively, curcumin has a good benefits for health which can use to avoid toxicants such as Hg and other heavy metals.     

Dendritic cells charged with apoptotic tumor cells induce long-lived protective CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immunity against B16 melanoma

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent APCs and attractive vectors for cancer immunotherapy. Using the B16 melanoma, a poorly immunogenic experimental tumor that expresses low levels of MHC class I products, we investigated whether DCs loaded ex vivo with apoptotic tumor cells could elicit combined CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell dependent, long term immunity following injection into mice. The bone marrow-derived DCs underwent maturation during overnight coculture with apoptotic melanoma cells. Following injection, DCs migrated to the draining lymph nodes comparably to control DCs at a level corresponding to approximately 0.5% of the injected inoculum. Mice vaccinated with tumor-loaded DCs were protected against an intracutaneous challenge with B16, with 80% of the mice remaining tumor-free 12 wk after challenge. CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were efficiently primed in vaccinated animals, as evidenced by IFN-gamma secretion after in vitro stimulation with DCs loaded with apoptotic B16 or DCs pulsed with the naturally expressed melanoma Ag, tyrosinase-related protein 2. In addition, B16 melanoma cells were recognized by immune CD8(+) T cells in vitro, and cytolytic activity against tyrosinase-related protein 2(180-188)-pulsed target cells was observed in vivo. When either CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells were depleted at the time of challenge, the protection was completely abrogated. Mice receiving a tumor challenge 10 wk after vaccination were also protected, consistent with the induction of tumor-specific memory. Therefore, DCs loaded with cells undergoing apoptotic death can prime melanoma-specific helper and CTLs and provide long term protection against a poorly immunogenic tumor in mice.     

Methods for analyzing panel studies of acute health effects of air pollution

New methods are presented for analyzing repeated binary health measurements of individuals exposed to varying levels of air pollution. The methods involve a separate logistic regression of response against environmental covariates for each individual. Parameters reflecting individual susceptibility to pollutants and weather are estimated using Cox's regression techniques (1970, 1972a). The individual parameters are combined to yield summary estimates of environmental effects. The approach does not require independence of successive health measurements. It is illustrated with data on asthma and air pollution in the Los Angeles area.     

Effect of Olea oleaster and Juniperus procera leaves extracts on thioacetamide induced hepatic cirrhosis in male albino mice

The effect of Olea oleaster and Juniperus procera leaves extracts and their combination on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic cirrhosis were investigated in male albino mice. One hundred sixty mice were used in this study and were randomly distributed into eight groups of 20 each. Mice of group 1 served as controls. Mice of group 2 were treated with TAA. Mice of group 3 were exposed to TAA and supplemented with O. oleaster leaves extracts. Mice of group 4 were treated with TAA and supplemented with J. procera leaves extracts. Mice of group 5 were subjected to TAA and supplemented with O. oleaster and J. procera leaves extracts. Mice of groups 6, 7 and 8 were supplemented with O. oleaster, J. procera, and O. oleaster and J. procera leaves extracts respectively. Administration of TAA for six and twelve weeks resulted in a decline in body weight gain and increased the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Histopathological evaluations of hepatic sections from mice treated with TAA showed severe alterations including increase of fibrogenesis processes with structural damage. Treatment of mice with these extracts showed a pronounced attenuation in TAA induced hepatic cirrhosis associated with physiological and histopathological alterations. Finally, this study suggests that the supplementation of these extracts may act as antioxidant agents and could be an excellent adjuvant support in the therapy of hepatic cirrhosis.     

Substrain specific behavioral responses in male C57BL/6N and C57BL/6J mice to a shortened 21-hour day and high-fat diet

ABSTRACT

Altered circadian rhythms have negative consequences on health and behavior. Emerging evidence suggests genetics influences the physiological and behavioral responses to circadian disruption. We investigated the effects of a 21 h day (T = 21 cycle), with high-fat diet consumption, on locomotor activity, explorative behaviors, and health in male C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N mice. Mice were exposed to either a T = 24 or T = 21 cycle and given standard rodent chow (RC) or a 60% high-fat diet (HFD) followed by behavioral assays and physiological measures. We uncovered numerous strain differences within the behavioral and physiological assays, mainly that C57BL/6J mice exhibit reduced susceptibility to the obesogenic effects of (HFD) and anxiety-like behavior as well as increased circadian and novelty-induced locomotor activity compared to C57BL/6N mice. There were also substrain-specific differences in behavioral responses to the T = 21 cycle, including exploratory behaviors and circadian locomotor activity. Under the 21-h day, mice consuming RC displayed entrainment, while mice exposed to HFD exhibited a lengthening of activity rhythms. In the open-field and light-dark box, mice exposed to the T = 21 cycle had increased novelty-induced locomotor activity with no further effects of diet, suggesting daylength may affect mood-related behaviors. These results indicate that different circadian cycles impact metabolic and behavioral responses depending on genetic background, and despite circadian entrainment.     

Occupational exposure of workers to pesticides: Toxicogenetics and susceptibility gene polymorphisms

Farm workers are often exposed to pesticides, which are products belonging to a specific chemical group that affects the health of agricultural workers and is mostly recognized as genotoxic and carcinogenic. The exposure of workers from Piauí, Brazil, to these hazardous chemicals was assessed and cytogenetic alterations were evaluated using the buccal micronucleus assay, hematological and lipid parameters, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity and genetic polymorphisms of enzymes involved in the metabolism of pesticides, such as PON1, as well as of the DNA repair system (OGG1, XRCC1 and XRCC4). Two groups of farm workers exposed to different types of pesticides were evaluated and compared to matched non-exposed control groups. A significant increase was observed in the frequencies of micronuclei, kariorrhexis, karyolysis and binucleated cells in the exposed groups (n = 100) compared to controls (n = 100). No differences were detected regarding the hematological parameters, lipid profile and BChE activity. No significant difference was observed either regarding DNA damage or nuclear fragmentation when specific metabolizing and DNA repair genotypes were investigated in the exposed groups.