In vitro investigation of the effect of permethrin on vascular smooth muscle

Permethrin is an insecticide from the Type-I pyrethroid group widely used in pest control in agricultural fields as well as in public health initiatives. This insecticide may adversely affect non-target organisms. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the functional effect of permethrin on vascular smooth muscles in vitro. Commercially purchased rat aortic smooth muscle cells were used. They were divided as 0 (control), 50, 100 and 150 µM permethrin groups. Cell viability in all groups was recorded for 72 hours with a real-time cell analysis system. K_ATP channel currents of cells were recorded for each group with patch clamp technique. Current-voltage curves were fitted to the Boltzmann shifted equation to obtain channel conductance values. Cell index value decreased significantly in the 150 µM permethrin group at 48th and 72nd hours compared to the control and 50 µM permethrin groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). K_ATP channel conductance was significantly decreased in 100 and 150 µM permethrin groups, compared to the control and 50 µM permethrin groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The findings obtained from the study gave clues that permethrin has the potential to cause cardiovascular dysfunction by reducing cell viability and K_ATP channel conductance in vascular smooth muscles.