Metabolism of Diflubenzuron in Lizard (Eremias argus) and Comparative Toxicity of Diflubenzuron and Its Metabolite

The metabolic process of diflubenzuron in rat or fish has been well studied, but little is known about its elimination pathway in lizard. The current study predicted the metabolic route of diflubenzuron in lizard feces and compared the toxicity of diflubenzuron and 4-chloroaniline on lizard thyroid system. The amido bond cleavage was the major route for diflubenzuron elimination in lizard feces. 4-Chloroaniline as the most toxic diflubenzuron metabolite was also abundant in feces. According to liver slices, 4-chloroaniline exposure induced significant changes of nuclear shape, while diflubenzuron exposure caused significant hepatocytes clustering. On the basis of thyroid hormone and thyroid-related gene levels, triiodothyronine (T3) level in lizard liver was regulated by thyroid hormone receptors, while thyroxine (T4) concentration was modulated by dio2 and udp genes after diflubenzuron or 4-chloroaniline exposure. These results showed that both diflubenzuron and 4-chloroaniline could disrupt lizard thyroid system, which could provide evidence for lizard population decline