Journal of Nutrition OpenSOurce Diets- www.ResearchDiets.com

Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] [Contents]
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Journal of Nutrition Vol. 108 No. 6 June 1978, pp. 973-980
Copyright © 1978 by American Society for Nutrition
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Chakraborty, D.
Right arrow Articles by Chatterjee, G. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Chakraborty, D.
Right arrow Articles by Chatterjee, G. C.

Studies on L-Ascorbic Acid Metabolism in Rats Under Chronic Toxicity Due to Organophosphorus Insecticides: Effects of Supplementation of L-Ascorbic Acid in High Doses1

D. Chakraborty, A. Bhattacharyya, K. Majumdar2, K. Chatterjee, S. Chatterjee, A. Sen and G. C. Chatterjee

Department of Biochemistry, University of Calcutta, Calcutta-700019

The effects of chronic administration of two organophosphorus insecticides, parathion and malathion on the growth rate, ascorbic acid metabolism and some other nutritional and physiological parameters in rats were studied. Both parathion and malathion toxicity retarded the growth rate of rats. Inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase was taken as an index of organophosphorus insecticide toxicity. Haemoglobin concentration of blood and organ weights were not affected under the toxic conditions. Parathion and malathion administration stimulated the activity of L-gulonolactone oxidase along with a simultaneous increase in the tissue storage and urinary excretion of vitamin C. The activities of other enzymes of ascorbic acid metabolism, dehydroascorbatase, uronolactonase, and L-gulonate dehydrogenase and decarboxylase were altered under the experimental conditions. Only minor histological changes of the liver and kidney tissues were noted under parathion and malathion toxicities. Excess intake of vitamin C under the toxic conditions was found to be very effective in counteracting the growth retardation and also the alterations produced by parathion and malathion both at the enzymatic and histological levels.

KEY WORDS: • parathion • malathion • toxicity • ascorbic acid

1 This work was been financed by the University Grants Commission, India.

2 Genetics Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Calcutta 700019, India.

Manuscript received 26 October 1977.




Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] [Contents]