title: Pyrethroid effects on operant responding and feeding.
abstract: The effects of permethrin, its cis and trans isomers, and deltamethrin on operant behavior and food intake were examined. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to respond on a VI20 second schedule of food reinforcement. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with pyrethroids or their Emulphor vehicle 20 minutes prior to testing. Technical grade permethrin (15-60 mg/kg) produced a dose-related decrease in operant response rate. The 60 mg/kg dose decreased rates by 60%. Lower doses of cis-permethrin (30 mg/kg) and deltamethrin (2 mg/kg) also produced significant decreases in response rate. A 30 mg/kg dose of trans-permethrin was without effect. Food intake was also measured for 1.5 and 24 hour periods after tech-permethrin treatment. Food intake was decreased over both intervals by the 60 mg/kg dose. The results of these studies indicate that subconvulsive doses of pyrethroid insecticides can have significant effects on learned behavior and food intake.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005508:Food Deprivation; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009570:Nitriles; D026023:Permethrin; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009570:Nitriles; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017180:decamethrin; D026023:Permethrin