Acute and chronic effects of the organophosphate malathion on the pancreatic α and β cell viability, cell structure, and voltage-gated K+ currents.

• Main Author: Martins, J.R.N
• Publication Date: 2023
• Other Authors: Lopes, S., Hurtado, H. N., da Silva, F. N., Villard, D. R., Taboga, S. R. [UNESP], Souza, K.L.A, Quesada, I., Soriano, S., Rafacho, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Download full: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2022.104046; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/248117
• topic: Endocrine disrupting chemicals; Environmental contaminants; Health concerns; Islets of Langerhans; Morphology

Studies indicate that the pesticide malathion may have a role in diabetes. Herein, we determined the effects of different concentrations of malathion on survival, ultrastructure, and electrophysiologic islet cell parameters. Acutely, high concentrations of malathion (0.5 or 1 mM) increased cell death in rat islet cells, while low concentrations (0.1 mM) caused signs of cell damage in pancreatic α and β cells. Exposure of RINm5F cells to malathion for 24 or 48 h confirmed the reduction in β-cell viability at lower concentrations (0.001–100 µM). Chronic exposure of mouse pancreatic α and β cells to 3 nM of malathion led to increased voltage-gated K+ (Kv) currents in α-cells. Our findings show a time and concentration dependency for the malathion effect on the reduction of islet cell viability and indicate that pancreatic α cells are more sensitive to malathion effects on Kv currents and cell death.