Fenthion, an organophosphorus pesticide, induces alterations in oxidant/antioxidant status and histopathological disorders in cerebrum and cerebellum of suckling rats.

Fenthion (FEN) is an organophosphorus pesticide known for its wide toxic manifestations. In this study, the effects of FEN were evaluated on the cerebrum and cerebellum oxidant/antioxidant status and histopathological disorders in the suckling rats. Pregnant rats were divided into two groups: control group received pure water, while FEN group received daily by their drinking water 551 ppm of FEN from the 14th day of pregnancy until day 14 after delivery. Acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity was inhibited in both the cerebrum and cerebellum of suckling rats whose mothers were treated with FEN. The cerebrum and cerebellum oxidative damage was demonstrated by a significant increase of malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein product and glutathione (GSH) levels and disturbance in the antioxidant enzyme activities. A significant decline of non-protein thiol and vitamin C levels was also observed. These changes were confirmed by histopathological observations which were marked by pyknotic neurons in the cerebrum and apoptotic cells in the cerebellum of FEN-treated rats. In the cerebellum of FEN-treated rats, the most conspicuous damage was the absence of external granular layer, indicating growth retardation. These data suggested that exposure of pregnant and lactating rats to FEN induced oxidative stress and histopathological disorders in the cerebrum and cerebellum of their pups. Thus, the use of FEN must be under strict control, especially for pregnant and lactating mothers.

Exposición aguda a fentión en juveniles de cachama blanca (Pioroctus brachypomus): efectos tóxicos, cambios en actividad colinesterasa y uso potencial en monitoreo ambiental / Acute exposure to fenthion in juveniles of white cachama(Piaractus brachypomus): toxic effects, changes in cholinesterase activity and potential use in environmental monitoring / Exposição aguda a fentião em juvenis de pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus): efeitos tóxicos, mudanças na atividade de colinesterase e uso potencial no controle ambiental

El fentión es un insecticida organofosforado usado en todo el mundo cuya aplicación puede derivar en contaminación de aguas y efectos potenciales en salud humana y animal. Objetivos: para evaluar los efectos tóxicos, la actividad colinesterasa plasmática tipo butiril (BChE) y el uso potencial en monitoreo ambiental se distribuyeron al azar treinta y cuatro juveniles de cachama blanca (Piaractus brachypomus) en tres tratamientos (control, 0,13 ppm y 2 ppm fentión) por un período de 96 horas. Materiales y métodos: los ejemplares fueron expuestos al fentión en tanques de diez galones, evaluando sintomatología, cambios post-mortem, índice viscero-somático (IVS) y actividad BChE. Se compararon las medias de cada variable para determinar significancia estadística (ANAVA, a=0,05). Resultados: se presentaron signos clínicos severos (nado frenético, tremores musculares y pérdida de eje de nado) en tres individuos (2 ppm) hacia las 11 y 34 horas. En 0,13 ppm hubo signos leves a moderados (tremores y movimiento de aleta caudal). Los IVS (control = 5,3 ± 0,5; 0,13 ppm = 6,9 ± 0,3 y 2 ppm = 7,3 ± 0,6) fueron significativamente diferentes entre los expuestos a fentión y los controles. La actividad BChE (control = 185,0 ± 20,4; 0,13 ppm = 12,5 ± 2,3 y 2 ppm = 9,8 ± 1,8 nmoles / ml plasma / min) mostró inhibición significativa en los expuestos a fentión con respecto a controles. Conclusiones: se demostraron los efectos tóxicos agudos del fentión en juveniles de cachama blanca. Los resultados en BChE mostraron su utilidad en monitoreo ambiental por exposición a insecticidas organofosforados.

Fenthion is an organophosphate insecticide used worldwide that may pollute waters after its application causing potential problems in public health and poisoning in domestic and wildlife animals. Objective: to evaluate toxic effects, butyrylcholinesterase activity (BChE) and use in environmental monitoring, 34 juveniles of white cachama (Piaractus brachypomus) were distributed in 3 groups (control, 0,13 ppm and 2 ppm fenthion) for 96 h. Materials and methods: fish were exposed in 10-gallon tanks; symptoms, gross lesions post-mortem, viscerosomatic index (VSI) and plasma BChE activity were evaluated. Mean comparisons for each variable among treatments were performed (ANOVA, a=0,05). Results: severe signs were seen in 3 specimens (3/11) of 2 ppm fenthion between 11 and 34 h of exposure. These signs were frantic swimming, muscle tremors and loss of swimming axis. In 0,13 ppm, mild to moderate signs (tremors and caudal fin flapping) were observed in some of the fish. The VSI (control = 5,3 ± 0,5; 0,13 ppm = 6,9 ± 0,3 and 2 ppm = 7,3 ± 0,6) was significantly different between exposed to fenthion and controls. BChE activity (control = 185,0 ± 20,4; 0,13 ppm = 12,5 ± 2,3 and 2 ppm = 9,8 ± 1,8 nmoles / ml plasma / min) showed significant inhibition in exposed to fenthion as compared to controls. Conclusions: the present work confirmed the toxic effects of fenthion in white cachama juveniles. Results found in BChE activity suggest its use in environmental monitoring as a good biomarker of organophosphates waterborne exposure.

O fentião é um inseticida organofosforado utilizado no mundo todo cuja aplicação pode derivar em contaminação de águas e efeitos potenciais em saúde humana e animal. Objetivos: para avaliar os efeitos tóxicos, a atividade da colinesterase plasmática tipo butirilo (BChE) e o uso potencial em controle ambiental se distribuíram ao acaso trinta e quatro juvenis de pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus) em três tratamentos (controle, 0,13 ppm e 2 ppm fentião) por um período de 96 horas. Metodologia: os exemplares foram expostos ao fetião em tanques de dez galões, avaliando sintomatologia, mudanças post-mortem, índice viscero-somático (IVS) e atividade BChE. Compararam-se as médias de cada variável para determinar significância estadística ANAVA, a=0,05). Resultados: apresentaram-se signos clínicos severos (nado frenético, tremores musculares e perda de eixo de nado) em três indivíduos (2 ppm) às 11 e 34 horas. Em 0,13 ppm houve signos leves e moderados (tremores e movimento de nadadeira caudal). Os IVS (controle = 5,3 ± 0,5; 0,13 ppm = 6,9 ± 0,3 y 2 ppm = 7,3 ± 0,6) foram significativamente diferentes entre os expostos a fentião e os controles. A atividade BChE (controle = 185,0 ± 20,4; 0,13 ppm = 12,5 ± 2,3 y 2 ppm = 9,8 ±1,8 nmoles / ml plasma / min) mostrou inibição significativa nos expostos a fentião em relação a controles. Conclusões: se demonstraram os efeitos tóxicos agudos do fentião em juvenis de pirapitinga. Os resultados em BChE mostraram sua utilidade em controle ambiental por exposição a inseticidas organofosforados.