# Pesticide Exposure and Adult Neurogenesis: Role of ER Stress

> **NIH NIH R01** · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $316,733

## Abstract

The use of pyrethroid insecticides has been increasing over recent years since the restriction of
organophosphates for household use. Deltamethrin is a potent type II pyrethroid with extensive use in agriculture
and residential applications. Detectable levels of pyrethroid metabolites have been found in the urine of the
general population, with much higher levels observed in pesticide applicators. More recently, neurological
symptoms in individuals highly exposed to pyrethroids have been reported. Cumulative exposure to low levels
of pesticides has been hypothesized to contribute to neurological impairment, yet few data related to their effects
on cognitive function exist. Indeed, rigorous quantitative assessment of pyrethroid effects on neurogenesis has
not been performed, nor have analyses of neurogenesis and behavior been performed in parallel. Our
preliminary investigations indicate that repeated exposure of adult mice to deltamethrin, at a dose near the lowest
observable adverse effect level, causes ER stress in the hippocampus and deficits in learning and memory in
mice. These effects were accompanied by marked increases in dentate gyrus cell death and reductions in stem
cell proliferation, suggesting potential effects on adult neurogenesis. Based on these findings, the goals of this
project include (1) define deltamethrin effects on adult neurogenesis: morphological analyses of hippocampal
stem cell proliferation and their localization, differentiation, migration, and fate, (2) investigate the mechanisms
by which deltamethrin exposure leads to disruption of hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive dysfunction, and
3) characterize the relationship between ER stress and hippocampal neurogenesis through pharmacological and
genetic approaches.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9980900
- **Project number:** 5R01ES027481-05
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Muhammad M Hossain
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $316,733
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-12-07 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9980900

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9980900, Pesticide Exposure and Adult Neurogenesis: Role of ER Stress (5R01ES027481-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9980900. Licensed CC0.

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