Modulation of benthiocarb in vitro inhibited neonate rat (Wistar strain) brain Na+K+-ATPase by norepinephrine.

Effect in vitro of benthiocarb, an organocarbamate herbicide on neonate rat (3 day old) brain was studied to understand the interaction of benthiocarb with Na+K+-ATPase. Na+K+-ATPase of the developing rat brain was selected as an index enzyme since alterations in the Na+K+-ATPase activity leads to neuronal dysfunction. The assay of Na+K+-ATPase in the presence of 1-8 mu moles of benthiocarb showed decreased activity and a concentration dependent inhibition of Na+K+-ATPase was noticed upto 7 mu moles of benthiocarb. Based on IC50 values (median concentration), 50% inhibition of the enzyme was observed with 5 mu moles of benthiocarb. Norepinephrine (NE) was selected to study the modulation of benthiocarb inhibited enzyme. Maximum increase (76.7%) of Na+K+-ATPase was noticed with 35 mu moles of NE and effective concentration (EC50) of NE which produced 50% activation of the enzyme was found to be 20 mu moles. This study suggests that NE acts as a protective agent in reversing the benthiocarb in vitro inhibited neonate rat brain Na+K+-ATPase.