Allethrin

Allethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide is a major mosquito repellent agent. Allethrin induces oxidative stress, apoptosis and calcium release in rat testicular carcinoma cells (LC540). Allethrin induces BCL-2, caspase-3 activation and release of intracellular calcium^[1]. In Vitro:Allethrin (0.001-250 μM) induces cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. Allethrin is cytotoxic to isolated Leydig cells and testicular cancer cells. Cytotoxicity is due to free radical generation and altered antioxidant status^[1].
Morphological analyses of LC540 cells treated with Allethrin (125 μM) reveals the presence of apoptotic bodies^[1].
Allethrin (125 μM) induces BCL-2, caspase-3 activation and release of intracellular calcium^[1].
Allethrin (IC₅₀≈85 μM) is toxic to human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells causing death through mitochondrial pathway^[2]. In Vivo:Adult male rats are treated orally with Allethrin (25, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg; every day for 60 days). Lipid peroxidation is increased in the caput, cauda, and testes. Nitric oxide production is increased in the caput, but unaltered in the cauda and testes. The activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are decreased in the caput and cauda^[3].