Prallethrin induced biochemical changes in erythrocyte membrane and red cell osmotic haemolysis in human volunteers

Changes in biochemical composition in erythrocyte membrane, erythrocytic osmotic haemolysis, and nitrite and nitrate levels in plasma were analyzed in 12 human volunteers who were exposed regularly to prallethrin, a type I pyrethroid mosquito repellent. The results revealed a decrease in cholesterol (C) and phospholipid (P) moieties in erythrocyte membrane with no consequent change in C:P ratio. Further, a significant decrease in the content of phosphatidyl serine suggested that PS is a sensitive phospholipid species to the pyrethroid action. Significant decrease in membrane lipid peroxidation and enhanced levels of nitrite and nitrate in plasma and erythrocyte indicate that increased generation and availability of nitric oxide might have rendered tolerance to erythrocyte membrane by protecting the cells from haemolysis. Increased NO2 and NO3 may be due to increased activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and/or expression of isoforms of NOS. A possible involvement of free radical scavenging and antioxidant effects of nitric oxide might have contributed to the observed decrease in lipid peroxidation in the present study.