title: Influence of protein deficiency on hexachlorocyclohexane and malathion toxicity in pregnant rats.
abstract: The effects of protein deprivation and 60 mg hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)/kg or 500 mg malathion/kg body weight were studied in pregnant rats fed a diet containing 16% (control) or 5% (protein-deficient) casein throughout gestation. Three po doses of HCH or malathion on the 6th, 10th and 14th day of gestation resulted in maternal toxicity and fetal growth retardation. No skeletal anomalies were noted except for poor ossification in the protein-deficient dams, which was further exaggerated on exposure to HCH or malathion. Malathion caused more severe maternal and fetal toxicity compared to the HCH-dosed rats. Depletion in glutathione (GSH) and decreased activities of GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were observed from the protein deficiency and pesticide exposure. Impairment of GSH-dependent routes of detoxification was noticed from exposure to HCH or malathion during pregnancy. The lipid peroxide content was elevated from protein deficiency and was magnified with pesticide exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prabhakaran
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shameem
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Devi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008294:Malathion / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D008294:Malathion