Effects of selected organophosphate insecticides on serum cholinesterase isoenzyme patterns in the rat.

The serum cholinesterase (ChE) isoenzyme in rats shows 6 bands after polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. The effects of organophosphates (fenthion, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, bromophos, propaphos, haloxon, and DFP) on serum ChE isoenzyme bands were studied in 32 male and 32 female 6-w-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Each organophosphate was randomly administered to 4 male and 4 female rats. Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta under halothane anesthesia 6 h after dosing. The isoenzyme patterns were determined simultaneously with erythrocyte and serum ChE activities. Changes were observed in all 6 bands of the serum ChE isoenzymes after administration of fenthion, chlorpyrifos and propaphos. Diazinon had no influence on band 6, and DFP and bromophos had no influence on band 5. Haloxon did not effect any of the serum ChE isoenzyme bands. Serum ChE was most suppressed by fenthion, followed by DFP, bromophos, chlorpyrifos, propaphos and diazinon in that order of effect. Serum ChE activity was not suppressed by haloxon. Erythrocyte ChE activity was suppressed by every organophosphate. This experiment demonstrated a correlation between the organophosphate suppression of serum ChE activity and the concentration of serum ChE isoenzyme band 6.