The widely used organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) is often detected in food. CPF inhibits acetylcholinesterase and can modify muscle contractility and respiratory patterns. We studied the effects of chronic exposure to CPF on respiratory parameters and diaphragm contractility in 21- and 60-days old rats. Pregnant rats were exposed to oral CPF (1 or 5 mg/ kg /day: CPF-1 or CPF-5 groups vs vehicle: controls) from gestation onset up to weaning of the pups that were individually gavaged (CPF or vehicle) thereafter. Two developmental time points were studied: weaning (day 21) and adulthood (day 60). Whole-body plethysmography was used to score breathing patterns and apnea index during sleep. Then, diaphragm strips were dissected for the assessment of contractility and acetylcholinesterase activity. Results showed that the sleep apnea index was higher in CPF-exposed rats than in controls. In adult rats, the expiratory time and tidal volume were higher in CPF-exposed animals than in controls. At both ages, the diaphragm’s amplitude of contraction and fatigability index were higher in the CPF-5 group, due to lower acetylcholinesterase activity. We conclude that chronic exposure to CPF is associated with higher sleep apnea index and diaphragm contractility, and modifies respiratory patterns in sleeping juvenile and adult rats.

Investigate the effect of dietary exposure to chlorpyrifos on locomotion and contraction of soleus andextensor digitorum longus (edl) involved in locomotion. Methods: Rats were fed diets containing 1 or 5 mg kg-1 of chlorpyrifos for six weeks. Locomotion has been assessed weekly using beam walking and beam balance tests. Soleus and edl were removed to study contractile properties, myofibrillar protein content and myosin heavy chain isoforms. Animals treated with 5 mg kg-1 chlorpyrifos had a decrease body weight. An increase by 28% and 24% in latency time assessed by beam walking test and a decrease by 9% and 13% in the beam balance time was reported after 6 weeks of 1 and 5 chlorpyrifos exposure respectively. The contractile properties in soleus showed an increase in twitch amplitude by 25% and 63% in 1 and 5 doses respectively, without modification in the contraction time and half relaxation time. edl treated with 1 mg kg-1 showed a decrease by 35%, 42% and 22% in twitch amplitude, contraction time and half relaxation time respectively. edl treated with 5 mg kg-1 showed an increase of 23% in twitch amplitude without modification of the other parameters. These changes were associated with modification of myofibrillar protein content in all treated groups. Myosin heavy chain isoforms were altered in both skeletal muscles treated with 1 mg kg-1. Exposure to chlorpyrifos can alter the locomotion and produce physiological changes in a dose and muscle type related manner.

Impacts d'un pesticide, le chlorpyriphos (CPF), et d'un régime riche en graisses "High Fat Diet" sur l'activité contractile du muscle lisse digestif et strié diaphragmatique: Le chlorpyriphos (CPF) est un pesticide inhibiteur de l'acétylcholinestérase (AChE). L'exposition au CPF est délétère pendant la période périnatale et à l'âge adulte. L'obésité maternelle et l'exposition aux pesticides peuvent programmer le métabolisme des enfants et favoriser l'obésité. Le premier modèle a évalué les effets de l'exposition au CPF pendant 6 semaines chez le rat adulte sur la fonction du diaphragme. Le deuxième a examiné les effets de l'exposition périgestationnelle des mères au CPF et / ou à un régime riche en graisses (HFD) pendant 4 mois avant la gestation jusqu'à la fin de la lactation. Les fonctions respiratoires et intestinales ont été étudiées chez des ratons de la descendance à J60. L'exposition des adultes au CPF augmentait la contractilité du diaphragme et sa fatigabilité, associée à une activité réduite de l'AChE, ainsi qu'à une perturbation de la régulation hormonale et de la composition en isoformes de la chaîne lourde de la myosine (MHC). L'exposition périgestationnelle augmentait l'indice d'apnée du sommeil, ainsi que la contractilité du diaphragme. Ceci peut être attribué à une transmission cholinergique prolongée, à une altération de libération/absorption du calcium du réticulum sarcoplasmique et à une expression accrue de l'ARNm des isoformes de la MHC. Cette exposition au CPF a augmenté la contractilité des muscles iléaux. Malgré l'absence d'exposition directe, l'exposition périgestationnelle au CPF et/ou au HFD programme les risques d'altération de la fonction respiratoire et intestinale chez les jeunes adultes. En outre, l'exposition au CPF chez l'adulte affecte la fonction physiologique du diaphragme