Oxidative detoxication selectivity

The other major mechanism of pyrethroid resistance found in some field strains of Heliothis virescens was enhanced detoxication due to a high rate of oxidative detoxication, mediated by a form of cytochrome P450 (McCaffery 1998). Some strains, such as PEG 87, which was subjected to a high level of field and laboratory selection, possessed both mechanisms. Other example of pyrethroid resistance due to enhanced detoxication may be found in the literature on pesticides. 

In the mid-1960s we showed firstly that the natural tolerance of houseflies to cyclodienes resulted mainly from oxidative detoxication (33 55) and secondly that another enzyme system, epoxide hydrase, converted certain dieldrin analogues into the corresponding trans-diols, (56,57) Interspecific differences in ability to attack enzymatically the unchlorinated ring systems of various analogues, either oxidatively and/or hydratively (if appropriate) can confer selective toxicity between insect species and also between insects and mammals (58) ... 

Extraordinary selectivity has been accomplished with the parathion-type of insecticide by incorporating Q or CH3 groups in the meta position of the aryl ring. These groups interact sterically with acetylcholinesterase (AChE), increasing the affinity for the insect enzyme and decreasing it with the mammalian enzyme. Selectivity also is enhanced by differences in the rates of microsomal oxidation of P=S to P=0 and in hydrolytic detoxication between insects and mammals. The compounds, fenitrothion, fenthion, ronnel, bromophos, iodofenfos, chlorpyrifos—methyl, and pirimiphos —methyl, and dicapthon are used widely in public health, household, and agricultural pest control. 

The human toxicology of methanol has been studied [6,71,72]. The skin absorption rate has been reported to be 0.19 m cm2/min [73]. Methanol vapor uptake by the lungs is effective, usually 7080% (74). In the liver, methanol goes through oxidation metabolism catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenase (an enzyme), producing toxic formaldehyde and formic acid. The accumulation of formic acid leads to acidosis, dama g the nervous system, particularly the optic nerves, and the retina. In the copresence of ethanol, ethanol is selectively metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase over methanol this delays methanol intoxication and allows detoxication by the natural elimination of methanol via respiration and urination. The methanol elimination half-life is about 23 h [6]. Because of the slow elimination, methanol can be re rded as a cumulative poison [68]. Chronic oq)osure may result in sufficient methanol accumulation in the body, and illness. 

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