Perinatal toxicity of cyfluthrin in mice: Developmental and behavioral effects

Abstract

<jats:p> The present study was undertaken to evaluate the teratogenic and behavioral effects of perinatal exposure to cyfluthrin (Synthetic Pyrethroid) on mice offspring. Humans are exposed to this compound as it is widely used in various household insecticide formulations and in public health programmes. Pregnant females were exposed to 16 mg/kg (low dose) and 32 mg/kg (high dose) body weight cyfluthrin daily by oral intubation from gestation day 14 through parturition and lactation up to weaning. On 18th day of gestation, 50% females were euthanized for teratological studies and the remaining were allowed to deliver their pups normally. The fetuses were weighed and observed for gross external malformations and routine teratological examination was done. The neonates were observed for neuromotor reflexes (surface righting, tail hang reflex and pivoting) from day 1 up to day 7 after birth. Movement and exploratory behavior of weanlings were observed using ‘open-field’ and ‘hole-board.’ The fetuses did not show any external malformation. Skeletal aberrations observed included poor ossification of the skull and phalanges and short ribs. Surface righting and pivoting were significantly affected by the high dose. Both doses produced significant changes in the locomotion, exploration, and rearing frequencies in the open-field. The study indicates that cyfluthrin when administered at the above-mentioned doses did not elicit significant teratogenicity but both the doses caused significant difference in behavioral activities. </jats:p>

Neurodevelopmental consequences of gestational and lactational exposure to pyrethroids in rats

“…Brain regions like the sub cortex and cerebellum are believed to be involved in the execution of these behaviors and impairment in the ontogeny of these reflexes indicates developmental cerebellar damage (Altman and Sudarshan, ). Similar results have also been reported by other workers following exposure to pesticides during gestation and lactation periods (Chanda and Pope, ; Bortolozzi et al, ; Soni et al, ).…”

“…Pups were directly placed with their back on a flat table top and released. Time was recorded until all four paws were returned to the table surface (Soni et al, ).…”

“…Motor activity of weanlings (PND 21) and adults (PND 60) was assessed using an open‐field according to the method described by Soni et al () with slight modifications. The open‐field apparatus consisted of a 60 × 60 cm 2 field with walls 15 cm high.…”

Extra-pulmonary oxidative stress investigations of an over-the-counter pyrethroid insecticide product in rats

“…β-Cyfluthrin is a newer pyrethroid insecticide used all over the world. It is reported to be neurotoxic (Satpathy et al, 1997), hepatotoxic and teratogenic (Soni et al, 2011). β-Cyfluthrin toxicity is exhibited by its metabolites which in turn generate free radicals (El-Demerdash, 2007).…”

Pesticide exposures in a malarious and predominantly farming area in Central Ghana

“…The regulatory control of chemicals in these settings is inadequate. The consequent increased exposure to these chemicals ( Soni et al, 2011 ) may contribute to poor health outcomes such as abnormal neurodevelopment, male infertility, or cancers, ( Koureas et al, 2012 ; PANAP A Factsheet Series, 2014 ; Gunnell et al, 2007 ; Horton et al, 2011 ).…”