Acute Oral Toxicity and Histopathological Studies of Cypermethrin in Rats

Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide used to control pests in domestic, industrial and agricultural situations. This study was carried out to investigate acute oral toxicity and histopathological changes of cypermethrin in albino rats. As per Finney's probit analysis method, at 48 h, LD₅₀ value of cypermethrin in rats was found to be 205 mg/kg bw by gavage method. Behavioural changes were mostly in the form of motor signs. On exposure to sublethal doses (41 mg/kg bw) of cypermethrin as single dose, double dose and multiple dose, mild to severe histological changes in duodenum, lungs and tes-tes could be demonstrated by haematoxylin and eosin staining.