Efeito de doses subletais de Fipronil sobre o comportamento exploratório e a memória olfativa de baratas da espécie Nauphoeta cinerea

Abstract

Agrochemicals are substances used to prevent, destroy and control any pest or to protect a commodity from deterioration during collection, storage and transport (FAO, 2002). Fipronil is an insecticide, anticide and termiteicide belonging to the class of phenylpyrazoles (MOFFAT, 1993). Its mechanism of action is based on the non-applicable pre- and postsynaptic blocking of the passage of chlorine ions by the neurotransmitter GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) (ZHAO, 2004). The pesticide Fipronil has been pointed out as responsible for the mass mortality of bees in the last years in the world. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of sublethal doses of Fipronil on the behavior, peripheral nervous system and olfactory memory of cockroaches of the species Nauphoeta cinerea and to associate the results with the probable effects of Fipronil on bees. The results obtained showed that the sublethal doses of Fipronil induced: significant increase in leg grooming time, however, there was no significant change in antenna grooming, dose-dependent locomotor deficit, neuromuscular block, irreversible negative chronotropic activity in frequency and changes in learning and formation of the olfactory memory of N. cinerea. Based on the literature, it is possible to correlate the results obtained with the effects of Fipronil in residual doses in the environment on the behavior and memory of bees.