Effect of malathion and methyl-parathion on rat liver enzymes.

The effect of sub-lethal doses of Malathion and Methyl-Parathion was studied on the rat liver enzymes. Intravenous administration of both insecticides at weekly interval for four weeks resulted in increase in weight of various tissues, i.e., heart and spleen. Short term (24 hr) and long term (4 weeks) treatment with insecticides resulted in increased specific activities of liver enzymes, Acid phosphatase, Alkaline phosphatase, Glutamate dehydrogenase, Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and Glutamate pyruvate transaminase. The increase in enzyme activity was not as profound when the insecticide administration was spread over 4 weeks. Malathion had greater effect than Methyl-parathion on the biochemical parameters studied.