The Pyrethroid Cypermethrin-Induced Biochemical and Histological Alterations in Rat Liver

Cypermethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, has broad-spectrum use in agriculture, domestic and veterinary applications due to its high bioefficacy, enhanced stability and considerably low mammalian toxicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the cypermetrin-induced alterations in the liver tissue of Wistar male rats, based on the histopatological, enzymological analyses and apoptotic changes. The animals of the experimental groups were orally fed with laboratory chow combined 60, 150, and 300 mg/kg Kral 250 EC during 28 consecutive days. At the end of the treatment, no significant change was found in relative liver weights, liver total proteins and cholinesterase enzyme activities of cypermethrin treated rats, when compared with control animals. Histopathological changes such as vacuolar degeneration, enlargement of the sinusoids, degeneration in hepatic cords and hepatocytes, vacuole formations in hepatocytes, pleomorphism in nucleus, and congestion were observed in liver tissues of only 150 and 300mg/kg cypermethrin treated rats. Mononuclear cell infiltration and an increase in the Kupffer cells in liver parenchymatous tissue were also determined. In all cypermethrin treated groups, the apoptotic index in livers of rats was significantly increased compared to control group (p>0.001). These results suggest that cypermethrin might cause hazardous effects in different levels to non-target organisms.