Enantioselective Elimination and Gonadal Disruption of Lambda-Cyhalothrin on Lizards (Eremias argus)

In this study, the different metabolic pathways of lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) enantiomers in Eremias argus feces and enantioselective disruption on hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) system were investigated. After 7 days oral exposure to LCT enantiomers, the concentration of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (PBA), hydroxylated and sulfated LCT were higher in the (+)-LCT exposure group than that in the (-)-LCT exposure group, which indicated a higher metabolic rate of (+)-LCT than (-)-LCT. Although no significant differences were seen on lizard body weight after enantiomers' exposure, the gonadosomatic index was dramatically decreased. The testicular impacts such as increased seminiferous tubule diameters were only observed in the (+)-LCT exposure group. Consistent with this result, the expression of ar gene in the (+)-LCT exposure was significantly higher than that in the (-)-LCT exposure group. In addition, the stronger binding affinity of AR with (+)-LCT further demonstrated the more serious disruption of (+)-LCT on lizard HPG axis than (-)-LCT. This study first elucidated the metabolic pathway and endocrine effects of LCT in lizards at enantiomeric level and provided some evidence for lizard population decline.