BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF DIMETHOATE ON WHITE RATS UNDER DIFFERENT FEEDING CONDITIONS

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether high protein diet fed to male albino rats would be effective or at least represents acceptable protection against dimethoate insecticide ( I 0% LD;n, 21 mg I kg body weight) given orally for 15, 30, 45 and 60 days, compared to balanced diet ( 16% protein). Liver rnucopolysaccharides (MPS) (non-, mono- and highly-sulfated) showed significant gradual elevations with the development of dimethoate hepatotoxicity. Their maximum values were 56.77%, 50.45 % and 38.60% compared with the normal control respectively after 60 days of dimethoatc treatmeut compared with the normal control of balanced diet. The three members of senun MPS, uronic acid, hexosamine, and fucose recorded cousiderable iucrcases of 44. 2•1 %, 3'!.39%, ,16. 51% respectively aller 60 days of dimethoatc intoxication. While hexose and N-acetylneuraminic acid displayed moderate elevation of3J.20% anci2X.09% respectively aller the same period of insecticide treatment. lltat elevations of hepatic MPS, in climethoate-treated rats, tended to be minimized iu response to high protein diet. lltis protection ability ofltigl! protein diet was inversally propottional to the development of dimethoate treatment. Feeding of high protein diet simultaneously \ ith dimcthonte administration resulted in limited effect on all levels nfscnttll MPS where they were still \ ith appreciable increases even aller 60 days feeding period. llte present tindings suggest that high-protein diet has a protective influence on the metabolic disturbances induced by the insecticide ou MPS. lltis influence might be induced through the impact of the high-protein diet 011 the e11zymcs controlling the biosynthesis and I or biodegradation of the various MPS assayed duriug this study.