Metabolic Disruptions in Zebrafish Induced by α-Cypermethrin: A Targeted Metabolomics Study
The widespread application of pesticides in agriculture has raised increasing concerns regarding their ecological impact, particularly in aquatic environments. Among these, α-cypermethrin, a highly active isomeric form of cypermethrin, has been extensively used due to its potent insecticidal efficac...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/7/529 |
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| Summary: | The widespread application of pesticides in agriculture has raised increasing concerns regarding their ecological impact, particularly in aquatic environments. Among these, α-cypermethrin, a highly active isomeric form of cypermethrin, has been extensively used due to its potent insecticidal efficacy and low mammalian toxicity. However, its toxicity to non-target aquatic organisms remains insufficiently understood at the metabolic level. In this study, a targeted metabolomics approach was employed to investigate the biochemical effects of α-cypermethrin in adult zebrafish. Acute toxicity was first determined to establish sublethal exposure concentrations (0.15 µg/L and 1.5 µg/L), followed by a 48 h exposure under a controlled flow-through system. GC-MS/MS-based analysis quantified 395 metabolites, and multivariate statistical models (principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA)) revealed clear dose-dependent metabolic alterations at two time points. Pathway analysis identified disruptions in glycolysis, glycerolipid metabolism, amino acid turnover, and glutathione pathways. Notably, glutamate depletion and associated reductions in GABA (4-Aminobutanoate) and TCA (Tricarboxylic acid) cycle intermediates suggest oxidative stress-induced metabolic bottlenecks. These results provide mechanistic insights into α-cypermethrin-induced toxicity and demonstrate the utility of metabolite-level biomarkers for environmental monitoring. This study contributes to a systems-level understanding of how sublethal pesticide exposure affects vertebrate metabolism, offering a basis for improved ecological risk assessment and pesticide regulation. |
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| ISSN: | 2305-6304 |