Screening of Toxic Effects of Neonicotinoid Insecticides with a Focus on Acetamiprid: A Review

Abstract

Recently, neonicotinoids have become the fastest-growing class of insecticides in conventional crop protection, with extensive usage against a wide range of sucking and chewing pests. Neonicotinoids are widely used due to their high toxicity to invertebrates, simplicity, flexibility with which they may be applied, and lengthy persistence, and their systemic nature ensures that they spread to all sections of the target crop. However, these properties raise the risk of environmental contaminations and potential toxicity to non-target organisms. Acetamiprid is a new generation insecticide, which is a safer alternative for controlling insect pests because of its low toxicity to honeybees. Acetamiprid is intended to target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in insects, but its widespread usage has resulted in negative impacts on non-target animals such as mammals. This review summarizes in vivo and in vitro animal studies that investigated the toxicity of specific neonicotinoids. With summarized data, it can be presumed that certain concentrations of neonicotinoids in the reproductive system cause oxidative stress in the testis; spermatogenesis disruption; spermatozoa degradation; interruptions to endocrine function and Sertoli and Leydig cell function. In the female reproductive system, acetamiprid evokes pathomorphological alterations in follicles, along with metabolic changes in the ovaries.

Keywords: acetamiprid; neonicotinoids; reproduction; toxicity.

Figure 3

The action of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the presence of acetylcholine (a) and a neonicotinoid (b) [62].

Figure 1

The environmental fate and routes of neonicotinoid pesticide exposure after application.

Figure 2

Chemical structures of common neonicotinoids (Content may be subject to copyright) [42].