engleski

Genotoxicity of α-cypermethrin in Wistar rats and their offspring during gestation

Low-dose, long-term exposure of higher organisms to man- made chemicals including insecticides can contribute to cancer development by induction of primary DNA damage and their fixation in the form of mutations. In utero development is a particularly sensitive period for these adverse effects. In accordance with guidelines for sustainable agriculture, many synthetic insecticides have been replaced with substances based on naturally occurring insecticidal agents. Despite the wide use of these new substances, there is little knowledge regarding possible toxic effects at low doses presenting real-life exposure. α-cypermethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, is one such example. In this study, adult female Wistar rats were treated with α- cypermethrin during the whole gestation period by gavage at doses representing acceptable daily intake (ADI) (0, 010 mg/kg bw/day), acceptable operator exposure level (AOEL) (0, 015 mg/kg bw/day) and 1/100 LD50 (0, 57 mg/kg bw/day). The dams and their offspring were sacrificed within 24 h after birth, and blood and liver samples were processed by alkaline comet assay. The results showed significantly elevated tail length at 1/100 LD50 and tail intensity at AOEL in dam leucocytes. No significant changes were observed in dam liver cells. In male F1 offspring, tail intensity was significantly increased at ADI in leucocytes, and at all doses in liver cells. Female F1 offspring demonstrated no changes of comet assay parameters in leucocytes but rather significant changes at all doses in liver cells. α-cypermethrin might compromise genetic integrity via induction of primary DNA damage both in adult animals and their offspring, hinting at transplacental transfer.

pyrethroid inscticide ; in utero development ; alkaline comet assay ; real life exposure ; DNA damage

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