Abstract

Narendra M., Kavitha G., Padmavathi P., Helah Kiranmai A. and Varadacharyulu N. C

Erythrocyte membranes from twelve human volunteers exposed regularly to allethrin, a mosquito repellent of type-I pyrethroid, were analyzed for cholesterol (C), phospholipids (P), and individual phospholipid classes to assess changes induced by this toxicant. A decrease in C and P moieties with no change in C: P ratio was observed with allethrin exposure. A significant reduction in the amount of phosphotidyl serine (PS) was noticed indicating that PS is an allethrin sensitive phospholipid species. Furthermore, decreased red cell membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO) and with no change in osmotic haemolysis of erythrocyte was observed. Increased plasma and red cell nitrate and nitrite were evident suggesting that the bioavailability of nitric oxide may have rendered tolerance to erythrocyte membrane by protecting the cell from haemolysis and oxidative damage due to its free radical scavenging and antioxidant effects.