Effects of exposure to the neonicotinoid pesticide clothianidin on mouse intestinal microbiota under unpredictable environmental stress

Effects of exposure to the neonicotinoid pesticide clothianidin on α-defensin secretion and gut microbiota in mice

“…Subsequently, questions arose about the reproductive toxicity of NNs [ 17 , 21 , 25 , 47 , 53 ], their neurotoxicity and involvement in cognitive‒emotional alterations [ 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 20 , 26 , 27 , 33 , 44 , 45 , 55 ], and their safety, even at the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL). Recently, subchronic exposure to clothianidin (CLO), a type of NN, has been reported to disrupt the intestinal microbiota of rats [ 35 ] and mice [ 30 , 56 ]. CLO may affect the host via dysbiosis, as reduced diversity of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) is associated with immunomodulatory dysfunction [ 37 ] and neurological disorders [ 4 ].…”

“…Furthermore, exposure of maternal mice to CLO resulted in alterations in the relative abundance of such bacteria within the gut microbiota of their offspring [ 30 ]. Additionally, combined exposure of mice to CLO and environmental stress altered the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acid–producing bacteria [ 56 ]. In the present study, CLO exposure altered the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acid–producing bacteria in the intestinal microbiota of mice, which is consistent with these reports.…”

Effect of clothianidin exposure at the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis

“…Numerous reports indicate the involvement of α7 nAChR in the regulation of anti-inflammatory responses, with its expression observed in macrophages, T cells, B cells, mast cells, and so on [See Review 19]. Previous studies showed that exposure to clothianidin (CLO), a class of NNs, causes a decrease in rat thymus weight [ 15 ], an increase in Hassall bodies in mouse thymus [ 13 ], and dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota [ 13 , 15 , 24 ]. It has been shown that an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota causes allergies [See Review 18 ], raising the possibility that NNs may disrupt the immune system and contribute to the development of allergic diseases.…”