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Pyriproxyfen does not cause microcephaly or malformations in a preclinical mammalian model

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Abstract

Pyriproxyfen is used in Brazil to combat epidemics of Dengue Fever, Chikungunya Fever, and Zika virus. This study assessed the effects of pyriproxyfen on reproductive performance, embryo-fetal development, head measurements, and DNA integrity in a preclinical model. Thirty pregnant mice were divided into three groups (n = 10): control (drinking water—0.1 ml/10 g (body weight—b.w., gavage) and treated with pyriproxyfen 0.0002 mg/kg and 0.0021 mg/kg (b.w., gavage) during the gestational period. Analysis of biometric, reproductive performance and embryo-fetal development parameters related to control presented no significant differences, suggesting no maternal or embryo-fetal toxicity. Head measurements showed no differences except an increase in anterior/posterior measurement and glabella/external occipital protuberance. Analysis of DNA integrity showed an increase in micronucleus only at 72 h for the lowest dose group. Thus, we infer that pyriproxyfen is not related to the occurrence of microcephaly, nor does it alter reproductive performance, embryo-fetal development or DNA integrity.

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Funding

Financial support was provided by the Brazilian Foundation: FUNDECT MS, CNPq, and CAPES.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Estudos em Células Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica – CeTroGen, Hospital Universitário Maria Aparecida Pedrossian – HUMAP, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul – UFMS, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

    Juliana Miron Vani, Laynna de Carvalho Schweich-Adami, Andréia Conceição Millan Brochado Antoniolli-Silva & Rodrigo Juliano Oliveira

  2. Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde e Desenvolvimento na Região Centro-Oeste, Faculdade de Medicina Dr. Hélio Mandetta – FAMED, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul – UFMS, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

    Juliana Miron Vani, Laynna de Carvalho Schweich-Adami, Andréia Conceição Millan Brochado Antoniolli-Silva & Rodrigo Juliano Oliveira

  3. Faculdade de Medicina do Mucuri, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e do Mucuri – UFVJM, Teofilo Otoni, MG, Brazil

    Sarah Alves Auharek

  4. Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimento e Nutrição – FACFAN, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul – UFMS, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

    Rodrigo Juliano Oliveira

  5. Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Biológicas – CCB, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil

    Rodrigo Juliano Oliveira

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  1. Juliana Miron Vani
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Correspondence to Rodrigo Juliano Oliveira.

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Vani, J.M., de Carvalho Schweich-Adami, L., Auharek, S.A. et al. Pyriproxyfen does not cause microcephaly or malformations in a preclinical mammalian model. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 4585–4593 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10517-5

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