Changes of some serum parameters and amino acids content in rats after chronic sublethal doses of dimethoate.

An intraperitoneal repeated dose of dimethoate (O,O-dimethyl S-[N-methylcarbamoyl methyl] phosphorodithioate) was injected to male Wistar rats for 8 successive days. Body weight and liver weight decreased significantly while liver/body weight ratio and mg protein/g liver remained unchanged. Twenty serum amino acids were assayed in blood samples collected from hepatic vein, portal vein, and aorta. Most of the measured amino acids showed a tendency of decrease compared to control. The decrease was significant only for taurine, serine, threonine, methionine, tyrosine, histidine, and arginine but not for the rest of the amino acids measured. Glucose, 3-hydroxybutyrate, urea, ammonia, and lactate were measured in the same serum samples. These serum parameters showed a tendency of decrease (except urea) of them from control but the decrease was not significant.