Abstract
The study aimed at investigating the effect of dimethoate on oxidative damage to liver and kidney of rat in vivo. Male rats grouped into three sub-groups (five each) were dosed intraperitoneally with sub-lethal concentrations of dimethoate (DM) for multiple time periods. DM caused hepatotoxicity confirmed by the increase in hepatic marker enzymes - alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and total bilirubin (TBIL) along with the hepatic malondialdehyde. Significant reduction (p<0.05) in antioxidant enzyme – Superoxide dismutase (SOD), reflecting a dose and time dependent manner was seen viz-a-viz control. Dimethoate strongly affected renal specific markers like higher serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine at all concentrations for 24h duration. Uric acid level at 24h interval was markedly elevated (p<0.05) in the test group administered with medium and highest concentrations. Interestingly, these biochemical alterations were accompanied by marked enhancement of lipid peroxidation in kidney and alteration of SOD antioxidant level of exposed groups. These perturbations in tissues corresponded histologically, as evident by low to severe injury signs upon microscopic evaluation. Thus, dimethoate is a potent hepato – and nephrotoxic at acute exposures and has the potential of bringing alteration in antioxidant homeostasis.
