Bifenthrin is a pyrethroid insecticide whose principal target of the neurotoxic action is the neuronal membrane’s voltage-gated Na+ channel [1]. Bifenthrin has greater photostability and insecticidal activity, but is neurotoxic to various animals, and its clinical signs of toxicity including tremors and convulsions. [1, 2].
Bifenthrin (20μM; 24h) induced a marked increase in PGE2, NO and TNF-alpha production in primary microglia; Bifenthrin (20μM; 24h) increased the expression of IL-6 and TNF-alpha mRNA in primary microglia [3]. Bifenthrin (1, 1.5μM; 24h) significantly decreased glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes; Bifenthrin (1.5μM; 24h) induced hemolysis in erythrocytes [2].
Bifenthrin (30, 60ng/L; 14d) increased the number of congested blood vessels of juvenile rainbow trout [4]. Bifenthrin (8mg/kg; 7d; i.p.) induced local nuclear pyknosis and vacuolar degeneration of liver tissues in some BALB/c mouse specimens; Bifenthrin (2, 4, 8mg/kg; 7d; i.p.) resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in mitochondrial ROS generation of BALB/c mice [5]. Bifenthrin (0.6mg/kg; 6weeks; qod.; i.g.) significantly increased body weight of C57BL/6 mice; Bifenthrin (0.6mg/kg; 6weeks; qod.; i.g.) significantly downregulated the expression of HSL and ATGL while significantly upregulated the expression of LPL of C57BL/6 mice [6].
References:
[1] Moreira C V L, Ogbu J s, Monteiro K L C, et al. Bifenthrin under scrutiny: revisiting toxicological evidence amid regulatory gaps [J]. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT, 2026, 46(1): 61-77.
[2] Mukhtar F, Jilani K, Bibi I, et al. Stimulation of erythrocyte membrane blebbing by Bifenthrin induced oxidative stress [J]. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society, 2022, 20(1): 15593258221076710.
[3] Gargouri B, Yousif N M, Bouchard M, et al. Inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of bifenthrin in primary microglia and organotypic hippocampal slice cultures [J]. Journal of neuroinflammation, 2018, 15(1): 159.
[4] Magnuson J T, Caceres L, Sy N, et al. The use of non-targeted lipidomics and histopathology to characterize the neurotoxicity of Bifenthrin to juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) [J]. Environmental science & technology, 2022, 56(16): 11482-11492.
[5] Zhang Y, Lu M, Zhou P, et al. Multilevel evaluations of potential liver injury of bifenthrin [J]. Pesticide biochemistry and physiology, 2015, 122: 29-37.
[6] Wei C, Wang X, Yao X, et al. Bifenthrin induces fat deposition by improving fatty acid uptake and inhibiting lipolysis in mice [J]. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2019, 67(51): 14048-14055.