Comparative response of male rats to parathion and lindane: histopathological and biochemical studies.

Exposure of male rats to parathion (2.6 mg/kg), lindane (17.6 mg/kg), or their combination through oral intubation daily for a period of 90 days produced histological and biochemical alterations in the liver and testis. The focal necrosis of the liver, although observed in all the treatments, was very prominent in the animals exposed to lindane alone. The kidney and epididymis, however, did not show any significant histological lesions. The activity of acetylcholine esterase in blood and brain decreased markedly, whereas that of succinic dehydrogenase, adenosine triphosphatase, and the alkaline and acid phosphate in liver and testis showed significant alterations for all three treatments.