Subacute toxicity assessment of diflubenzuron, an insect growth regulator, in adult male rats

Difubenzuron (DFB), an insecticide and acaricide insect growth regulator, can be used in agriculture against insect predators and in public health programs, to control insects and vectors, mainly Aedes aegypti larvae. Due to the lack of toxicological assessments of this compound, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the toxicological effects of subacute exposure to the DFB insecticide in adult male rats. Adult male rats were exposed (gavage) to 0, 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg of DFB for 28 days. No clinical signs of toxicity were observed in the DFB-treated animals of the experimental groups. However, there was an increase in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase in the group that received 8 mg/Kg/DFB/day and urea at doses of 4 and 8 mg/Kg/DFB/day, without altering other biochemical or hematological parameters. The subacute exposure to the lowest dose of DFB caused significant decrease in testis weight, daily sperm production, and in number of sperm in the epididymis in relation to the control group. However, no alterations were observed in the sperm morphology, testicular, epididymis, liver and kindney histology, or testosterone levels. These findings unveiled the hazardous effects of DFB on male reproduction after the subacute exposure and special attention should be addressed to the effects of low doses of this pesticide.

Tecnologias de aplicação de produtos fitossanitários no controle de percevejos pragas na cultura da soja

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Utilização de extratos vegetais em proteção de plantas

Usage of pesticies in excessive doses or in an inadequate way to control diseases, pests and weeds, has promoted significant environmental damage, contamination of animals, intoxication of farmers, among others. These factors lead to occur the resistance of weeds, pests and pathogens, the appearance of iatrogenic diseases, biological imbalance and reduction in biodiversity. Seeking less aggressive alternatives, plant extracts have been used successfully. Compared to synthetic products, they offer great advantages as generating new compounds, which pathogens are unable to inactivate, and are less toxic, of rapid degradation in the environment, they have broad modes of action, and are derived from renewable resources. It should be emphasized that there are some limitations on its use. The extracts have potencial as insecticide, fungicide, herbicide and nematicide and are considered of good efficiency. The methodologies for obtaining can be achieved through cold extraction, open and closed hot system. The use of plant extracts reappears as a promising and unique option for integrated management in plant protection, being considered as an alternative to control plant pathogens, demonstrating excellent results without causing harm to the environment and living beings.

The use of soybean integrated pest management in Brazil: a review

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Isolamento e caracterização de ciclotídeos da espécie Noisettia orchidiflora (Rudge) Ging.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeitos da exposição gestacional a cádmio e dimetoato sobre o comportamento de ansiedade na prole de ratos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Bioatividade de derivados de Annonaceae sobre Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos do extrato de Agave sisalana Perrine sobre a toxicidade ovariana e uterina, fertilidade e parâmetros fetais de ratas

Pós-graduação em Biociências - FCLAS