No abstract

Extensive application of pesticides is usually accompanied with serious problems of pollution and health hazards. Lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT), a type II synthetic pyrethroid, is widely used in agriculture, home pest control and protection of foodstuff. This study designed to evaluate the dose dependent haematological, hepatic and gonadal toxicity of LCT at different dose levels in Wistar rat. Investigations were also done to find out the toxic effect of lambda cyhalothrin on lipid metabolism in female rat and its amelioration by taurine. Rats were exposed to different doses of lambda cyhalothrin over a period of 14 consecutive days. Exposure to LCT produced ataxia, agitation, rolling and also tremors which were considered as the signs of toxicity. Significant decrease in erythrocyte count, haemoglobin percentage, seminal fructose concentration, hepatic and testicular reduced glutathione (GSH) content was observed. Increase in leukocyte count, serum aspartic and alanine transaminase, hepatic and testicular malondialdehyde (MDA), testicular and ovarian cholesterol after LCT treatment were seen in male rats at the dose level of 10.83 mg/kg body wt. (1/7 th LD 50 ). Elevated ovarian cholesterol and MDA and reduced 3β hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (HSD) and GSH level were also observed in lambda cyhalothrin exposed female rat at the dose level of 6.29 mg/kg body wt.(1/9 th LD 50 ). LCT caused increase in serum triglyceride, cholesterol, low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and bilirubin and decrease in serum high density lipoproteins (HDL) in female rat. Taurine pretreatment ameliorated LCT induced altered lipid metabolic biomarkers in female rat.

CitationPesticides are used frequently and may have various adverse effects on human health in different ways. Cypermethrin (CYP) is a synthetic type II pyrethroid pesticide that has been used extensively to control a wide variety of pests in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, and public health. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the dose-dependent hematological, hepatic and gonadal toxicity of CYP in mature male and female Wistar rats. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into nine groups, different doses of CYP were administered for 14 consecutive days and different hematological, hepatic and gonadal parameters were assayed. Results: Erythrocyte count, hemoglobin percentage, hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) content and sperm count were significantly diminished. Serum aspartic and alanine transaminase, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), testicular cholesterol content were increased following CYP treatment in male rats at 40 and 80 mg/kg body weight (1/9 and 1/4.5 LD 50 ). Elevated ovarian cholesterol content and decreased 17β hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (HSD) levels were also observed in CYP-exposed female rats at a dose level of 34.33 and 51.5 mg/kg body wt. (1/9 and 1/6 LD 50 ). Conclusion: Taken together, CYP initiated hematological, hepatic and gonadal toxicity in mature male rats with a body weight of 40 mg/kg (1/9 LD 50 ) and gonadal toxicity in mature female rats with a body weight of 34.33 mg/kg (1/9 LD 50 ) and above.

Cypermethrin, a synthetic pyrethyroid pesticide, is used for more than one decade to control a wide variety of pests in agriculture. The present study designed to evaluate the protective role of zinc in attenuating cypermethrin induced reproductive toxicity in female prepubertal rat. Female prepubertal rat received oral cypermethrin alone at two dose levels and zinc alone or combined with cypermethrin for consecutive 14 days. Cypermethrin arrested vaginal opening, reduced the weights of ovaries and uterus. Total cholesterol and ascorbic acid content of the ovaries were elevated whereas the activities of Δ 5 ,3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. In the adrenal gland of rat these parameters showed opposite findings. The levels of serum LH, FSH and estradiol were also decreased. Cypermethrin treatment also produced oxidative stress in ovary by significant increase in malondialdehyde level, accompanied by a reduction in reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzymes. From the results, we may conclude that cypermethrin suppresses the female reproductive functions in rat by disrupting the estrous cycle and ovarian biomarkers by increasing oxidative stress and zinc attenuates the cypermethrin-induced toxicity.

Taurine is a major intracellular free β-amino acid, which can protect the body against toxicity. Lambda-cyhalothrin, a third-generation type II pyrethroid. is used predominantly in agriculture production and animal husbandry. The aim of the present study was to investigate lambda cyhalothrin-induced biochemical changes in rat liver and to search out the possible role of taurine for the attenuation of hepatotoxic biomarkers.  Male rats were randomly divided into six groups and lambda cyhalothrin was orally administered at two dose levels (10.83mg/body wt., 15.17mg/body wt.) alone and in combination with taurine pretreatment (50mg/kg body wt) for 14 consecutive days. A significant change in blood glucose level with a marked decline in glycogen content were indicated the hepatic dysfunction in lambda cyhalothrin treated rats. This was also confirmed by the altered activities of serum hepatic biomarker enzymes and lipid profiles in LCT intoxicated rats. Pre-treatment of taurine mitigated the abnormalities. These findings pointed out the toxic effect of lambda cyhalothrin in rat liver and also revealed the protective action of taurine against this pyrethroid.