Effect of deltamethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, on the induction of chromosome aberrations, micronuclei and sperm abnormalities in mice.

The effect of the synthetic pyrethroid insecticide deltamethrin was investigated in mice in vivo for the induction of bone marrow chromosome aberrations and micronuclei in bone marrow and for sperm abnormalities. Technical deltamethrin (10, 15 and 20 mg/kg) was injected i.p. and the respective cells were fixed after 24 h, 30 h and 35 days for the observation of chromosome aberrations, micronuclei and sperm abnormalities respectively. Additionally, route-response (i.p., oral and s.c.), time-response (6, 24 and 48 h) and acute-chronic (24 versus 120 h) studies were conducted for the induction of chromosome aberrations by the highest dose (20 mg/kg) of deltamethrin. All the above test results showed significant increases over respective controls. Moreover, a linear relationship was evident between the dose of deltamethrin used and the frequencies (%) of chromosome aberrations, micronuclei or sperm abnormalities.