THE EFFECT OF DICHLORVOS ON ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN SOME TISSUES IN RATS

In this study, the changes with respect to time in the serum, brain, liver, kidney and small intestine acetylcholinesterase activities were investigated in both male and female rats administered dichlorvos intraperitoneally (i.p.). For this purpose, 4 mg kg–1 doses of dichlorvos were injected i.p. in the rats. The control groups, on the other hand, were administered physiological saline via the same route. Rats were killed by decapitation at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 72 hours after administration of dichlorvos and tissues were harvested. Enzyme activities were determined following the necessary treatments. While a significant decrease in enzyme activities in the kidney and small intestine tissues with respect to time were not observed in either sex, a significant decrease in enzyme activities in the serum, as well as in the brain and liver tissues were observed. As a result of our study, acetylcholinesterase activity was found to be decreased compared to controls in both male and female rats from 2 and 4 hours. Enzyme inhibition continued for up to 72 hours.