Fipronil: avaliação da mutagenicidade e carcinogenicidade em Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera, Drosophilidae) e do efeito no comportamento de Melipona scutellaris (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Abstract

Fipronil is an insecticide of phenylpyrazol group used to control pests with noncompetitive action and antagonistic GABA receptors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of Fipronil insecticide. The mutagenic effects were evaluated using the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) on wings cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Third instar larvae from standard (ST) cross and High bioactivation (HB) cross were treated with different concentrations of Fipronil (0.3; 0.7; 1.5 or 3.0.10-5 mM). The results showed mutagenic effect at all concentrations tested in the HB cross; and all concentrations tested in the ST cross, except at concentration of 0.7.10-5 mM. The carcinogenic effect of fipronil was assayed through the test for detection of tumor epithelial (warts) in D. melanogaster. Third instar larvae from wts/TM3 virgin females mated to mwh/mwh males were treated with different concentrations of fipronil (0.3; 0.7; 1.5 or 3.0.10-5 mM). All these concentrations induced a statistically significant increase in tumor frequency. In conclusion, Fipronil proved to be mutagenic and carcinogenic in somatic cells of D. melanogaster.