Effects of Dichlorvos on Reduced Glutathione, Glutathione S-Transferase and Lipid Peroxidation of Egg Laying Hens

Reduced glutathione (GSH) and Glutathione S-transferase (GST) play important roles in the detoxification of several xenobiotic compounds, including pesticides. This study was carried out to access the effect of the organophosphate pesticide, dichlorvos on the activities of GSH, GST as well as lipid peroxidation of egg laying hens. Seven weeks old pullets weighing between 400-600 g divided into four groups of 10 birds each were fed on commercial poultry feeds contaminated with 0.01, 0.02 and 0.04% of dichlorvos. The control group had no pesticide added to the diet. The birds were maintained on the above diet for 20 weeks after which their blood samples were collected for analysis. There was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in serum GSH at 0.04% pesticide contamination (10.64 ± 1.50 μg/l) compared to the control (17.87 ± 0.37 μg/l). Similarly, there was also a significant reduction in serum GST activity at 0.04% pesticide contamination as against the control. Lipid peroxidation increased significantly from 1.17 ± 0.52 MDA/mg protein in the control to 4.34 ± 1.22 MDA/mg protein in the birds fed on 0.04% contaminated diet. There were significant increases (p<0.05) in serum protein at all the levels of pesticide contamination when compared with the control. The result of this study suggests the use of GST, GSH and lipid peroxidation as biomarkers of dichlorvos exposure.