Effects of the insecticides DDT and dieldrin on phosphorus metabolism of the adult housefly Musca domestica L.

Abstract

At the late prostrate stage there is a significant breakdown of thoracic adenosine triphosphate in DDT-poisoned houseflies. This fall could be reversed by injecting aqueous glucose. There was also a significant breakdown of thoracic adenosine triphosphate in DDT-poisoned insects spared the hypermotor activity by cyclopropane anaesthesia. Cyclopropane also failed to prevent the enhanced desiccation associated with DDT poisoning. The fall in adenosine triphosphate and respiration rate of DDT-poisoned houseflies is not due to the exhaustion of endogenous reserves or to the hypermotor activity induced by DDT. In both DDT- and dieldrin-poisoned houseflies there was a fall in the level of thoracic [alpha]-glycerophosphate, which could not be reversed by cyclopropane anaesthesia.