Comparative effects of fipronil and its metabolites sulfone and desulfinyl on the isolated rat liver mitochondria

• We study the effects of fipronil and its main metabolites on the liver mitochondria.
• Fipronil and metabolites inhibited the respiratory chain and uncoupled mitochondria.
• Fipronil and metabolites caused calcium efflux from mitochondria.
• Disturb of bioenergetics and calcium homeostasis may be involved in fipronil toxicity.

Fipronil is an insecticide extensively used to control pests in crops and animals. There are relates of poisoning due to exposure of fipronil in mammals and the liver has been suggested as potential target. In this study, we evaluated the effects of fipronil and its metabolites sulfone and desulfinyl on the bioenergetics, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and calcium efflux from mitochondria isolated from rat liver. Fipronil (5–25 μM) inhibited state-3 respiration in mitochondria energized with glutamate plus malate, substrates of complex I of the respiratory chain and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential resulting in inhibition of ATP synthesis. Fipronil also caused uncoupling in succinate-energized mitochondria and calcium efflux. The metabolites sulfone and desulfinyl also acted as mitochondrial inhibitors and uncouplers and caused calcium efflux, but with different potencies, being the sulfone the more potent one. These effects of fipronil and its metabolites on mitochondrial bioenergetics and calcium homeostasis may be related to toxic effects of the insecticide in the liver.