RESUMO
Experiments were conducted to evaluate the toxic effects of monocrotophos in ciliate models Paramecium caudatum and Oxytricha fallax. In acute toxicity studies higher concentrations of monocrotophos caused marked increase in mobility of cells exhibiting rocking movements within two mins of exposure but were decreased after 30 mins. LC50 value by mortality curve for 3 hr acute toxicity test of Oxytricha fallax and Paramecium caudatum was found 307.744±33.27mg l-1 and 332.284±57.52 mg l-1 respectively. Oxytricha fallax was found sensitive than Paramecium caudatum to monocrotophos. In acute exposure cells showed deformities such as swelling, oval shaped deformity and in higher concentrations shortening of longitudinal axis with blackening of cytoplasm occurred. The length of paramecia was reduced prominently. Similarly, enlargement of contractile vacuole and stress egestion of food vacuoles was also observed. The morphological studies showed the changes in shape, size, colour and width of Paramecia and Oxytricha. Frequencies of macronuclear aberrations were significant showing deformities such as rod shaped, elongation, fragmentation, diffusion and total absence of nucleus and were concentration dependent. The data provided in the present study, on interaction of pesticides with nuclear structure can be of immense value because most of these pesticides have been reported to have carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties.