title: Detection of borderline dosage of malathion intoxication in a rat's brain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Humans and other animals are liable to expose to low doses of malathion (MAL). However, experimental studies on its toxic threshold dose and toxic low-dose effects have not been conducted. The aims of this study were to detect the initiation of the toxic effects of sub-acute low doses (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) of MAL by immunohistochemical and biochemical parameters in rat brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n=7) including control and three different amounts of MAL-exposed groups (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On immunohistochemical examination, the number of caspase-3-positive cells in all MAL-exposed groups was significantly higher than in the control group. Consistent with this, the total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, and the levels of superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and paraoxanase activity were significantly different in the 5 and 10 mg/kg MAL-exposed groups compared with the control group. Additionally, the total oxidant status and malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in the 5 and 10 mg/kg MAL-exposed groups compared with those in the 2.5 mg/kg MAL-exposed group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that over 5 mg/kg MAL exposure may result in dose-dependent oxidative stress, increased caspase-3 activity, and launching to the toxic effects in rat brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey. kaganbasarslan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varol
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Başarslan
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Fırat
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alp
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uzar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arıkanoğlu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Evliyaoğlu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kıbrıslı
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gökalp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008294:Malathion / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007306:Insecticides; D016877:Oxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D053148:Caspase 3; D008294:Malathion