title: Repeated malathion exposure induces behavioral impairment and AChE activity inhibition in brains of rat pups.
abstract: The present study evaluated if repeated malathion administration would cause behavioral impairment in rat pups. Na+K+ ATPase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities were investigated in brains of rat pups. Malathion was administered (100 or 200 mg/kg) orally (p.o.), once a day for four consecutive days. Rat pups were submitted to behavioral tests on the 5th day, 24 h after the last malathion administration. Malathion at the dose of 200 mg/kg caused a significant increase in the negative geotaxis latency and a decrease in the rotarod latency of rat pups. Rat pups exposed to malathion at both doses showed a significant decrease in the forelimb support latency and an inhibition of brain AChE activity. Repeated exposure of rat pups to malathion caused a decrease in motor coordination, vestibular function and muscular strength/coordination. The brain activity of AChE is involved in the behavioral alterations caused by malathion in rat pups.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carmine Inês
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Acker
authors.forename: Ana Cristina Guerra
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinton
authors.forename: Juliana Trevisan
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: da Rocha
authors.forename: Caroline Amaral
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Friggi
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanella
authors.forename: Cristina Wayne
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Nogueira
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity; D008294:Malathion / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007306:Insecticides; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D008294:Malathion