Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid class of insecticide. Toxic effects of cypermethrin were studied by selecting Marcia opima as an animal model. Cypermethrins effect on the total glycogen content of mantle, gill, foot, hepatopancreas, male gonad and a female gonad of an estuarine clam, Marcia opima was examined. The clams were exposed to 1.58 ppm cypermethrin for acute and 1/10th of that concentration for chronic treatment. It was found that there was a decrease in glycogen content in various tissues as compared to control. In LC0 and LC50 groups, glycogen was decreased in all tissues except in hepatopancreas compared to control. This decrease is greater in mantle, gill, and foot in LC50 group than the decrease in those tissues of LC0 group. In chronic exposure it was found that glycogen was decreased in mantle, foot, male gonad, and female gonad when compared to the control group except in gill and hepatopancreas. Decrease in glycogen content indicates greater utilization of glycogen for metabolic purposes and too combat with cypermethrin stress. The significant increase in glycogen content in gill and hepatopancreas may be a reaction to the increase in energy demand.

Summary. Early undernutrition, induced by feeding mothers a low protein (5%) diet during gestation and/or lactation, resulted in significant deficits in acetylcholine concentration in the rat brain, and these deficits were reversed by subsequent dietary rehabilitation.The key role of acetylcholine (ACh) as a neurotransmitter has now been well established 3. The concentration of ACh in the brain varies inversely with the functional activity of the brain. Thus, it is elevated in anaesthesia and sleep 4'5, in deep narcosis 6 and after the administration of CNS depressants 7. It is decreased in conditions associated with increased brain activity, for example convulsions, electrical stimulation and emotional excitement 4. The concentration of ACh in the rat brain increases with age up to 100 days or moreT,8; this increase coincides with the 'growth spurt' of the brain, and this is the time when the brain is more vulnerable to nutritional insults 9' 10. Neonatal undernutrition brought about by litter-size manipulation was not found to alter the concentration of ACh in the rat brain during the weaning period ~2. However, postweaning protein deficiency and also caloric restriction were found to decrease the ACh concentration. Neonatal undernutrition in the rat is also associated with significant deficits in brain DNA, lipids and neurotransmitter amines 9,1~It was therefore logical to investigate the effects of early undernutrition in rats, induced by maternal protein deficiency during gestation and/or lactation, and the subsequent dietary rehabilitation, on brain ACh levels. Adult female albino rats of proved fertility, weighing 180-200 g (bred at Haffkine Institute), were used for the experiments. They were divided into 3 groups, each of which received a different dietary regimen from the 1st day of conception. The control group (G+L +) was fed a 20% protein diet during gestation and lactation. The 2nd group (G+L -) was fed a 20% protein diet during gestation and a 5% protein diet during lactation. The 3rd group (G-L-) was fed a 5% protein diet during gestation and lactation. Water and diet were provided ad libitum to all the groups. The composition of the diet was essentially similar to that Effects of early undernutrition and subsequent dietary rehabilitation on ACh concentration in rat brain ~ DietaryBody weight Brain weight Brain acetylregimen (g) (g) choline (gg per g)

The impact of acute exposure of Cypermethrin on the rate of oxygen consumption of the estuarine clam, Katelysia opima was studied. After 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 84 and 96 h of exposure to acute concentration, the average oxygen consumption in LC0 group was 0

Summary1. The effects of thiamin deficiency during pregnancy and/or lactation on brain Cholinergic system in rat pups were studied. Dietary rehabilitation for a period of 5 weeks from the 28th day was instituted to study possible 'catch-up' in the brain acetylcholine levels. 2. Brain acetylcholine level was found to be significantly decreased on the 21st and 28th days in pups of the dams fed thiamin deficient diet during gestation and lactation, whereas it was decreased on the 28th day in pups of the dams fed thiamin deficient diet during lactation. Activities of Cholinergic enzymes remained unaltered in both the deficient groups. 3. Subsequent dietary rehabilitation was found to reverse the deficits in brain acetylcholine levels.