title: Depression of plasma luteinizing hormone concentration in quail by the anticholinesterase insecticide parathion.
abstract: To examine the effects of parathion on basal plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration, male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were orally intubated with 0, 5 or 10 mg/kg parathion and sacrificed after 4, 8 and 24 hr. At the 5 mg/kg dose, plasma LH levels were reduced at 4 and 8 hr, but returned to control values by 24 hr. Brain acetylcholinesterase activity was substantially reduced by 10 mg/kg parathion (52, 75 and 37% inhibition at 4, 8 and 24 hr, respectively) and plasma LH concentration remained depressed through the 24-hr period. These findings suggest that the organophosphorus insecticide parathion may alter plasma LH concentration in a manner which might impair reproductive activity, and provide indirect evidence for a cholinergic component in the regulation of LH secretion in quail.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rattner
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ottinger
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D003370:Coturnix / Q000378:metabolism*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010278:Parathion / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011784:Quail / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010278:Parathion; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase