Mechanistic Insights into Monocrotophos Induced Toxicity in Neuronal Cells

The plethora of literature has reported the vulnerability of neuronal cells to environmental toxicants. Among such toxicants, pesticides, especially organophosphorus (OPs), have been demonstrated to exhibit severe neurotoxic effects on the brain. Monocrotophos, a widely used OP has been implicated in the onset of perilous systemic effects, in particular neurotoxicity. To gain insight into the toxicity mechanism of MCP we evaluated the potential effects of the compound on NSC derived neuronal cells in culture using a battery of cytotoxicity parameters. MCP exerted concentration dependent cytotoxicity on neuronal cells manifested by reduced cell viability, increased lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione levels. These changes were accompanied by excessive reactive oxygen species generation and membrane depolarization with parallel alterations in markers of neuronal injury and dose dependent reduction in the expression of anti apoptotic protein Bcl- 2 implicating cell apoptosis. Together these findings implicate the vulnerability of neuronal cells to MCP exposure that warrants stringent use of the pesticide.