Dinotefuran

Dinotefuran (CAS No.: 165252-70-0) is a neonicotinoid small-molecule insecticide widely used as a pharmacological tool to investigate nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) function in invertebrate systems, acting as a potent modulator of these ligand-gated ion channels to disrupt cholinergic neurotransmission and induce neural dysfunction. It interacts with insect nAChRs and associated ligand-binding sites, demonstrating activity in the nanomolar to micromolar range in receptor binding and electrophysiological assays, and produces pronounced neurotoxic and lethal effects across multiple insect species, including both larval and adult stages. Mechanistically, dinotefuran alters synaptic signaling by inducing sustained receptor activation and subsequent neuronal depolarization, ultimately leading to paralysis and death, making it a useful probe for studying receptor pharmacology, neurotoxicity, and insecticide resistance mechanisms. In experimental settings, it has been employed in in vitro receptor-binding assays, neuronal preparations, and in vivo insect models to evaluate cholinergic signaling pathways and screening strategies for novel neuroactive agents, while also serving as a reference compound in environmental toxicology studies examining oxidative stress and neurodevelopmental effects in non-target organisms. The concentrations or doses used in these studies typically vary depending on the experimental system and specific research objectives.