Biochemical Indicators Of Hepatotoxic Effects Of Pesticides

Dahamna Saliha⁽¹⁾ and C.H. Walker^(2)
(1)Biology department, Faculty of Sciences, Ferhat Abbas University, Setif 19000, Algeria
E-mail: dahamna@yahoo.fr
⁽²⁾Department of Physiol.& Biochem., Univiversity of Reading, UK

Abstract

Pesticides have useful and harmful effects. On the one hand they are useful for controlling pests that damage crops ; on the other hand they can cause damage to man and beneficial organisms. Some sub-lethal effects of pesticides were studied in rabbits and birds with a view to identify characteristic biochemical responses that may be useful for the monitoring of exposure to sub-lethal levels in the field. New Zealand White rabbits (NWR), wild rabbits starlings and house sparrows were used in this study. Seven pesticides were used : demeton-S-methyl, (DSM), chlorpyriphos, chlorfenviphos, triazophos, pirimicarb, methiocarb and permethrin. Blood was collected before dosing, and 2, 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the treatment from the ear vein of rabbits and from the brachial vein of birds. Enzyme activities were assayed in the plasma or serum samples obtained.The assays used were GOT, MDH , GDH, SDH, GAMMA GT and ChE. The results showed an increase in plasma and serum GOT and gamma-GT levels were found in all animals treated with the previous pesticides. The level of ChE increased in birds after treatment with permethrin. Histopathological investigations showed cell enlargement in the liver tissue in NWR treated with DSM. It was concluded that the pesticides cause structural and functional changes in the liver, and also, the measurement of the previous parameter activities may be useful for assessing exposure and sub-lethal effects of pesticides on the wildlife.