Prenatal exposure to cypermethrin modulates rat NK cell cytotoxic functions.

The synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, cypermethrin, was given during gestation to pregnant rats by gavage in corn oil. Peripheral blood and spleen cytotoxic activity of dams and their offspring were then evaluated at different times (30, 60, 90, 120 days) after birth. Pups showed a significant increase in peripheral blood natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent (ADCC) cytotoxic activity paralleled with a similar increase in the percentage of NK-RP1+ cells and decreased activity in the spleen. Pregnant cypermethrin-exposed dams showed no changes in peripheral blood or spleen cytotoxic function during the postnatal period. Overall, these results suggest that immunomodulation of cytotoxic activity observed in the offspring is likely attributable to a specific effect of cypermethrin administered during the prenatal period.