Cypermethrin-induced alterations in vital physiological parameters and oxidative balance in Caenorhabditis elegans

Cypermethrin belongs to the class of synthetic pyrethroids, which are being widely used as an insecticides
in agricultural practices. The toxicity of cypermethrin is well studied in Drosophila melanogaster,
fish, rats, mice, and is reported to cause neurotoxicity and oxidative stress during its metabolism. In this
study, we evaluated the biological consequences of 4 h exposure to cypermethrin at sublethal concentrations
(1, 5 and 15 mM) in Caenorhabditis elegans on physiological parameters such as egg laying, brood
size, feeding and lifespan and oxidative stress parameters such as ROS, hydrogen peroxide levels, protein
carbonyl, enzymatic antioxidants and glutathione levels. There was a significant and dose-dependent
decrease in brood size (18–53%), egg laying (54–67%), feeding (29–58%) and marked decrease in lifespan
(20%) at 15 mM of cypermethrin. Increase in levels of oxidative markers such as ROS (21–56%), intracellular
hydrogen peroxide (17–62%), protein carbonyl (8–29%) and alteration in the activity of enzymatic
antioxidants as well as depletion of glutathione (13–38%) were also observed. Our study offers evidence
to show that cypermethrin induces significant oxidative stress in C. elegans and alters several physiological
parameters in these worms, which can lead to impaired functioning, and survival of these worms.