Effects of pyrethroids on lymphocyte membrane lipid packing order

The effects of pyrethroids on the membrane lipid packing order of murine splenic lymphocytes have been investigated by utilizing the fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Fluorescence anisotropy and lifetime measurements indicated alterations in the environment of the probe at pyrethroid concentrations near 1 microM. Decreased packing order of membrane lipids was detected for permethrin and cypermethrin by decreased anisotropy values. Permethrin and cypermethrin decreased fluorescence lifetime over a concentration range similar to that causing anisotropy changes. Anisotropy was predominantly increased in the presence of fluvalinate and fenpropathrin, indicating pronounced quenching of fluorescence by these compounds. However, the anisotropy changes in response to fluvalinate and fenpropathrin occurred at concentrations which were similar to effective concentrations of permethrin and cypermethrin. Compared to the other pyrethroids tested, allethrin required approximately 10 fold higher concentrations to alter anisotropy and lifetime values. Effects of pyrethroids on the phase transition of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes were also studied to give further insight into the membrane interactions of these compounds. Results from the liposomal system indicate that the effects of pyrethroids on membrane order which were observed in the lymphocyte may be generalizable to other cell types.