No abstract

Lindane is widely used as an insecticide and scabicide in mammals. High doses in chronic exposures caused hyperexcitability and convulsions and impaired motor activity involving GABA-ergic mechanism. To investigate the role of GABA/Benzodiazepine mechanism in the neurotoxicity of low doses of lindane, rats were administered 2, 3, or 5 mg/kg orally for 90 days and behavioural, electrophysiological, and neurochemical studies were conducted. The animals exposed to lindane exhibited increased geotaxis and decreased spontaneous drug-induced locomotor activity (which further potentiated by phenobarbitone and increased after leptazol). The EEG of the treated rats showed high voltage slow-wave activity (HVSA) patterns with occasional spindles (9-10 HZ-amplitude of 100 uv). A significant increase (p< 0.01) in GABA levels in cerebellum and significant increase in benzodiazepine receptors in cerebellar membrane measured by (3H)flunitrazepam binding were observed in the animals exposed to 3 and 5 mg lindane. The study suggests that low dose chronic exposure of lindane causes neurobehavioral, neurochemical, and electrophysiological effects involving GABA-ergic mechanism(s).

Normal and lesioned rats exposed to 3 mg/kg i.p. endosulfan for 10 subsequent days showed elevated foot-shock fighting behaviour in septal and nigral brain-lesioned animals. Increased ipsilateral circling was noticed in unilateral-nigral lesioned rats. A marked decrease in locomotor activity and no seizure pattern were recorded in rats treated with chlorpromazine (CPz). Electroencephalographic recording on the tenth day of endosulfan exposure showed high-voltage slow activity (HVSA) with occasional spindles and 5-6 Hz amplitude of 200 microV. In the treated rats an increase in the concentration of dopamine (DA) and a decrease in serotonin (5-HT) were recorded in amygdaloid, septal and nigral brain-lesioned rats.

No abstract

Gamma-HCH (lindane) administered for long durations is reported to cause toxic cardiovascular effects. Present study was carried out to assess the changes in cardiovascular activity and cellular calcium homeostatic mechanisms in rats administered 3 mg kg-1 day-1 of gamma-HCH p.o. for 6 weeks. The changes in electrocardiogram were marked by a decrease in R-R interval and the amplitude of the P wave by 53% and 50%, respectively. The amplitude of R and T waves was increased by 65% and 58%, respectively. Calcium-45 influx was increased in atrial trabeculae (33%) and in papillary muscle (10%). The plasma calcium concentration was increased (32%) and Ca,K-ATPase activity in heart was decreased (50%). It is suggested on the basis of these findings that cellular calcium homeostatic mechanisms are involved in the cardiovascular effects of gamma-HCH administered chronically in rats.