Phorate Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Organophosphorus compounds induce oxidative stress leading to generation of free radicals and alterations in antioxidant and scavengers of oxygen free radicals. The present study demonstrates the effect of chronic exposure of phorate in causation of oxidative stress in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Phorate was administered orally at doses 0.05, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg of body weight for 60 days. After the administration of doses, the liver and blood samples were analyzed for various parameters of oxidative stress and liver toxicity markers. The results indicated an increase in lipid peroxidation , increase in the levels of aminotransferases (ALT and AST), ALP,ACP, LDH and GGT .Similarly, there was a dose dependent decrease in catalase, superoxide dismutase and GSH in liver at all doses. The level of cytochrome P450 was also found to be enhanced. Histopathological changes confirmed that phorate caused significant structural damages to the liver tissues. These results might perhaps be the first to establish the phorate induced oxidative stress mediated hepatotoxicity in rats.