Antioxidant system in rat tissues after single exposure to triazole fungicides

The spread and accumulation in the environment of tebuconazole, which is a triazole fungicide, causes a variety of enviro n mental problems and endangers human health. Despite numerous advances in studies of its toxicity, cellular mechanisms of influence have not been systematically studied. Wistar H an rats were administered in vivo a single oral dose of fungicide (600 and 1200 mg/kg), containing the active substance tebuconazole alone or in combination with triadimefon. Gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC–MS) revealed that the accumulation of tebuconazole in the liver prevailed over its accumulation in the kidneys. The features of the antioxidant protection system response (activity of antioxidant enzymes and sulfhydryl groups) of the liver, kidneys and myocardium we re detected on the 14th day after a single exposure to the fungicide in rats. A decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase, as well as a decrease in the content of both protein and non-protein sulfhydryl groups, was found in the liver. In the kidneys, with an increase in the administered dose of the studied fungicides, the activity of superoxide dismutase and the content of protein SH groups decrease d , and the activity of catalase d id not differ from the control. In the myocardium, only superoxide dismutase activity tend ed to increase, while the values of other indicators remain ed at the control level, which can be regarded as a compensatory reaction to the action of fungicides. No distinct differences in the action of fungicides containing tebuconazole alone or in combination with triadimephone were found, which requires further research. The changes detected in the antioxidant system of hepatocytes can be explained by oxidative stress mediated by the accumulation of tebuconazole in the liver. This may reflect metabolic changes and impairment of liver function under the influence of fung i cides containing tebuconazole.