BEHAVIORAL TOXICITY OF CHRONIC ADMINISTRATION OF FENITROTHION IN RATS

Abstract

A battery of tests was used to assess the neurobehavioral effects of fenitrothion [insecticide] at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg administered daily to rats for 40 days. Decreases in body weight, overt cholinergic signs, loss of many reflexes, changes in measures of motor activity and indices of ataxia were observed at various times after onset of treatment with the 2 higher doses of fenitrothion. Mortalities occurred within 12 days in those groups but all signs of toxicity and of behavioral deficits disappeared gradually in survivors. Changes in the neurobehavioral measures were seen in 2 animals treated with 10 mg/kg and only after > 20 days of treatment; in 1 rat, weight loss, absence of some reflexes, deficits in activity and signs of ataxia preceded death by several days. Results were discussed in relation with the existing data on the behavioral toxicity of fenitrothion.