Cardiotoxicity risk induced by sanitary insecticide Dimefluthrin

Dimefluthrin (DIM) is a commonly utilized sanitary insecticide, predominantly employed for indoor pest management within residential and public environments directly interacting with human habitation. However, the usage of DIM is escalating with increasing mosquito resistance, prompting concerns about its health risks. Here, using zebrafish as a research model, we systematically evaluated DIM's impact on human health. Findings revealed significant health hazards during embryonic development, including reduced hatching rates, shortened body lengths, and organ malformations, notably affecting the heart. It was explored the mechanism of DIM-induced cardiotoxicity in zebrafish, and histopathological analyses revealed that DIM resulted in ventricular linearization in zebrafish embryos. Antioxidant enzyme activities were reduced and cardiac reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated after DIM exposure, suggesting clear signs of oxidative stress. Additionally, acridine orange (AO) staining and caspase-3 immunofluorescence demonstrated cardiac apoptosis in Tg (kdrl: EGFP) zebrafish. qPCR analysis implied that DIM induced apoptosis via the p53/Caspase pathway by up-regulating the expression levels of p53, cytochrome C (cyto-C), caspase-9, and caspase-3. Together, our work provided a systematic perspective on the cardiotoxicity of sanitary pesticides, which could offer opportunities for future risk management.