title: Alterations of T cell distribution and functions in prenatally cypermethrin-exposed rats: possible involvement of catecholamines.
abstract: The synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, cypermethrin (50 mg/Kg) was given during gestation to pregnant rats by gavage in corn oil. Prenatal cypermethrin-exposure induces a marked and long-lasting increase of adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA) plasma concentrations. The enhancement of plasma catecholamine levels was accompanied by a marked increase of CD5+, CD4+, and CD8+ total T cell numbers in the peripheral blood, while in the spleen a reduction of all T cell subsets was observed. In addition, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from rats prenatally exposed to cypermethrin showed an enhanced capability to proliferate in response to different doses of Concanavalin A (ConA), or human recombinant interleukin-2 (hrIL-2), whereas an impaired proliferative response was observed in the spleen. The percent increase of NA, but not A plasma concentrations paralleles the immunomodulatory effects induced by cypermethrin neonatal exposure on T cell distribution and mitogen-induced proliferation in the peripheral blood and spleen. Collectively, our results suggest that the changes in mitogen-induced proliferative responses in the peripheral blood and spleen of prenatally cypermethrin-exposed rats may be attributable to pesticide-induced catecholamine release, which causes an increased output of CD5+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells from the spleen to the peripheral blood, and a consequent lymphocytosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Experimental Medicine, University of Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cantalamessa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spreghini
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sagretti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Staffolani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piccoli
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D002395:Catecholamines; D007306:Insecticides; D008934:Mitogens; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017160:cypermethrin; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine