Long-term exposure to cypermethrin and piperonyl butoxide cause liver and kidney inflammation and induce genotoxicity in New Zealand white male rabbits.
Cypermethrin (CY) is a frequently used class II pyrethroid pesticide, while piperonyl butoxide (PBO) plays a major role in the pesticide formulation of synthetic pyrethroids. Synthetic pyrethroids are metabolized in mammals via oxidation and ester hydrolysis. PBO can prevent the metabolism of CY and enhances its pesticide effect. While this potentiation effect reduces the amount of pesticide required to eliminate insects, it is not clear how this mixture affects mammals. In our in vivo experiment, New Zealand white male rabbits were exposed to low and high doses of CY, PBO, and their combinations, for 4 months. Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity were monitored by measuring binucleated cells with micronuclei (BNMN), micronuclei (MN) and the cytokinesis block proliferation index (CBPI) in lymphocytes. After two months of exposure, a statistically significant increase in the frequency of BNMN was observed for all exposed animals (p < 0.001) in a dose-dependent way. MN were significantly elevated compared to controls (p < 0.001), with high dose groups reaching a 442% increase when co-exposed. BNMN and MN continued to increase after four months. Histopathological examination of lesions showed damage involving inflammation, attaining lymphoplasmatocytic infiltration in the high dose groups. Both CY and PBO cause liver and kidney inflammation and induce genotoxicity.
Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Alexander I
AI
Vardavas
Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Polychronis D
PD
Stivaktakis
Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Manolis N
MN
Tzatzarakis
Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Persefoni
P
Fragkiadaki
Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Fotini
F
Vasilaki
Department of Pathology, Medical School Voutes-Stavrakia, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Maria
M
Tzardi
Department of Pathology, Medical School Voutes-Stavrakia, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Galateia
G
Datseri
Laboratory of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
John
J
Tsiaoussis
Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Athanasios K
AK
Alegakis
General Chemical State Laboratory of Greece, Department of Hazardous Substances, Mixtures and Articles, 16 An. Tsocha Str, 1152 Athens, Greece.
Christina
C
Tsitsimpikou
Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene, F.F. Erisman, Moscow, Russian Federation.
Valerii N
VN
Rakitskii
UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
Félix
F
Carvalho
Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Electronic address: aris@med.uoc.gr.
Aristidis M
AM
Tsatsakis
D000818:Animals; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D010882:Piperonyl Butoxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity*; D011817:Rabbits
D011722:Pyrethrins; C017160:cypermethrin; D010882:Piperonyl Butoxide
Cypermethrin; Cytotoxicity; Genotoxicity; Histology; Micronuclei; Piperonyl butoxide; Potentiation