Effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d) on the liver and kidney of Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae).
7 affiliations
- 1School of Veterinary and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. [email protected].
- 2Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí, Goiás, Brazil.
- 3Veterinary Medicine Program, Universe University Center Goiânia, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
- 4Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
- 5Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí , Goiás, Brazil.
- 6Department of Histology and Embryology, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Samsun, Turkey.
- 7Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí , Goiás, Brazil.
Abstract
The herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is widely used in tropical agriculture, yet its effects on non-target ectothermic vertebrates remain poorly understood. This study assessed the subchronic toxicological impact of 2,4-D on the liver and kidneys of Tropidurus torquatus, a neotropical lizard commonly found in agricultural areas. Seventeen adult males were divided into control (n = 9) and treatment (n = 8) groups. The treated group received 0.01 mg/kg body weight/day of 2,4-D orally for 30 days, based on the acceptable daily intake for mammals. Histopathological, stereological, and biochemical analyses were conducted. Hepatic histopathology showed no significant alterations, but stereology revealed a reduction in hepatocyte volume fraction in treated animals (p < 0.05). Renal histopathology showed significant degenerative changes, including hydropic-vacuolar degeneration, coagulative necrosis, and accumulation of brownish granular pigment (p < 0.0001). Biochemically, 2,4-D exposure triggered oxidative stress in both organs, with increased reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, and reduced activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Despite these functional changes, renal stereology showed no significant differences in kidney volume or glomerular count. These findings indicate that even at doses considered safe for mammals, 2,4-D causes subclinical but relevant toxic effects in reptiles. This highlights the limitations of extrapolating mammalian safety thresholds to other taxonomic groups and reinforces the need for specific ecotoxicological assessments focused on tropical herpetofauna.
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BibTeX
@article{freitas2026effects,
title = {{Effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d) on the liver and kidney of Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae).}},
author = {Letícia Menezes Freitas and Rafael Menezes da Costa and Lucas José Santos Mascarenhas and Leiny Paula de Oliveira and Fabiano Campos Lima and Süleyman Kaplan and Valcinir Aloísio Scalla Vulcani},
journal = {Ecotoxicology (London, England)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s10646-026-03170-0},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909661},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d) on the liver and kidney of Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae).
AU - Letícia Menezes Freitas
AU - Rafael Menezes da Costa
AU - Lucas José Santos Mascarenhas
AU - Leiny Paula de Oliveira
AU - Fabiano Campos Lima
AU - Süleyman Kaplan
AU - Valcinir Aloísio Scalla Vulcani
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Ecotoxicology (London, England)
DO - 10.1007/s10646-026-03170-0
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909661
AB - The herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is widely used in tropical agriculture, yet its effects on non-target ectothermic vertebrates remain poorly understood. This study assessed the subchronic toxicological impact of 2,4-D on the liver and kidneys of Tropidurus torquatus, a neotropical lizard commonly found in agricultural areas. Seventeen adult males were divided into control (n = 9) and treatment (n = 8) groups. The treated group received 0.01 mg/kg body weight/day of 2,4-D orally for 30 days, based on the acceptable daily intake for mammals. Histopathological, stereological, and biochemical analyses were conducted. Hepatic histopathology showed no significant alterations, but stereology revealed a reduction in hepatocyte volume fraction in treated animals (p < 0.05). Renal histopathology showed significant degenerative changes, including hydropic-vacuolar degeneration, coagulative necrosis, and accumulation of brownish granular pigment (p < 0.0001). Biochemically, 2,4-D exposure triggered oxidative stress in both organs, with increased reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, and reduced activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Despite these functional changes, renal stereology showed no significant differences in kidney volume or glomerular count. These findings indicate that even at doses considered safe for mammals, 2,4-D causes subclinical but relevant toxic effects in reptiles. This highlights the limitations of extrapolating mammalian safety thresholds to other taxonomic groups and reinforces the need for specific ecotoxicological assessments focused on tropical herpetofauna.
SN - 0963-9292
SN - 1573-3017
ER -