Effect of endosulfan and quinalphos on intestinal absorption of glucose in the freshwater murrel, Channa punctatus.

The effect of four concentrations of two agricultural pesticides, endosulfan and quinalphos (100 ppm, 10 ppm, 1 ppm, 0.1 ppm) on the rate of uptake of glucose by the intestine of a teleost fish, Channa punctatus after 1 h at 23 degrees C has been studied. The rate of absorption of glucose by the intestine was also examined in fish exposed to LC50 for 96 h (endosulfan 2 micrograms/l, quinalphos 0.25 mg/l) and to a sublethal concentration of the two pesticides for 15 and 30 days by bath. All the four concentrations of the two pesticides decreased the rate of intestinal glucose transport. Increase in the concentration of the pesticides decreased the uptake of glucose to a greater extent but the decrease was not proportional to the increase in the concentration of the pesticides. The rate of glucose absorption was also reduced by exposure of fish to the pesticides by bath. The decrease in intestinal glucose transport was greater in fish exposed for 96 h than after either 15 or 30 days. Of the two pesticides, endosulfan was more effective in reducing the glucose transport rate.