Dermal exposure to pesticides modifies antioxidant enzymes in tissues of rats

• Published in: Journal of environmental science and health. Part B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 399 - 416
• Main Authors: Panemangalore, Myna, Bebe, Frederick N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01-07-2000; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; Antioxidants - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; catalase; Catalase - drug effects; Catalase - metabolism; exposure; glutathione peroxidase; Glutathione Peroxidase - drug effects; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Liver - drug effects; Liver - enzymology; Male; Medical sciences; Pesticides; Pesticides - adverse effects; Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - drug effects; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; tissues; Toxicology; Glutathione peroxidase; Insecticide; Rat; Enzyme; Toxicity; Pesticides; Rodentia; Detoxication; Superoxide dismutase; Botanical insecticide; Antioxidant; Alkaloid; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Enzymatic activity; Peroxidases; Catalase; Organophosphorus compounds; Laboratory animal; Oxidoreductases; Derm; Public health; Nicotine
• ISSN: 0360-1234; 1532-4109
• DOI: 10.1080/03601230009373279

Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities were determined in rat tissues after dermal exposure to pesticides. Two experiments were conducted in male SD rats, 190-210 g body weight. Acephate (ACP), methamidophos (MAP) and nicotine (NIC) were dissolved either individually or together in 0.25 mL of 50% ethanol, which contained: AP=12.6 or MAP 1.3 or NIC= 9.6 mg; EXP 1 - individual pesticide exposure; 64 rats, 16/group; EXP 2 - mixture of AP+MAP+NIC at levels of IX, 2X, 3X; 48 rats, 12/group; 0.25 mL of solution or ethanol (Controls) was applied to 25 mm
2
area of shaved skin 3 times a week. Half the rats were terminated after 4 weeks and the rest after 4 weeks of stopping exposure. Single pesticides decreased erythrocyte (RBC) SOD by 17 % after exposure and in the NIC group after post exposure (P#0.05). Increasing concentrations of AP+MAP+NIC mixture elevated RBC SOD by 22 % in the 2X and 3X groups and CAT by 13 % in the 3X group (P#0.05); post exposure increased RBC SOD by 2-3 fold and CAT activity by 13 % in all 3 groups. Liver GPX increased by 30-40 % and CAT decreased by 12 % in all exposed and post exposed groups (P#0.05). The results suggest that dermal exposure to mixtures of pesticides can selectively induce SOD, CAT and GPX activities in RBC and liver.