| Bifenthrin is a relatively new synthetic pyrethroid that is effectively used as an insecticide due to its specificity to insects. Considering its new origin, not much is known about this pyrethroid however preliminary data suggests a high safety profile. Here we used PC12 cells treated with bifenthrin (and lindane as a control) to examine the non-lethal affects that may be caused.; PC12 cells were exposed to both bifenthrin and lindane at varying concentrations. Cell samples were subjected to different assays to determine various alterations occurring in the cells. The colorimetric assay kits used were to determine lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity, glutathione S-transferase activity, nitric oxide levels, and cell proliferation.; Bifenthrin slightly increased cell viability at all concentrations tested (1 x 10-4M to 1 x 10-9M) by about 9%. Glutathione S-transferase activities for bifenthrin samples were approximately the same regardless of concentration, at an approximate 43% increase over the DMSO control. Bifenthrin caused a concentration dependent nitric oxide level change with the greatest difference seen at 1 x 10-4M with a 43% increase. On average a 24% increase was seen in nitric oxide concentrations. Cell proliferation did not change for bifenthrin treatments, except at 1 x 10-4M. At this concentration, an increase of 43% in cell proliferation was seen, which immediately returned to normal at all other concentrations. Finally bifenthrin reduced neurite outgrowth by up to 79% (in the presence of nerve growth factor).; The results of the assays indicate that bifenthrin neither affects cell viability or cell proliferation. Bifenthrin does however increase nitric oxide levels and elicits a detoxification response within the cell using glutathione and glutathione S-transferase to reduce harmful reactive oxygen species, such as nitric oxide. Finally, bifenthrin affected PC12 cells ability to extend neurites. |
