Effects of toxaphene on hepatic enzyme induction and circulating steroid levels in the rat.

Abstract

Rats were given a single dose of toxaphene (120 mg/kg, equivalent to 1/2 LD5o) and sacrificed at 1, 5, and 15 days. Liver weight and hepatic microsomal enzyme activity were increased at day 5 and 15. The level of plasma testosterone was significantly decreased at day 15. In a second experiment rats were given 2.4 mg/kg daily and sacrificed at 1, 3 and 6 months. Liver weights and microsomal enzyme activity were significantly increased over controls; enzyme activity was, however, decreasing by the end of the experiment. Plasma testosterone levels were not affected. It is concluded that enhanced hepatic enzyme induction causes only a transient drop in circulating testosterone levels followed by a return to normal values.

Analysis of health status of the frog Fejervarya limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae) living in rice paddy fields of Western Ghats, using body condition factor and AChE content

“…Therefore, deviation of CF recorded in pesticide contaminated rice paddy fields could not be ruled out as a potential indicator of agrochemicals influence on frogs. Changes in HSI generally indicate an effect of chemical exposure on liver function (Peakall, 1976;Anderson et al, 1988;Gabriel et al, 2009;Paunescu & Ponepal, 2011). In the present study, frog samples from pesticide contaminated sites showed relatively high level of HSI (%) indicating the stress on liver.…”

Natural variability of biochemical biomarkers in the macro‐zoobenthos: Dependence on life stage and environmental factors

“…Since the 1970s, biomarkers have been widely used in ecotoxicology as indicators of exposure to toxicants and effects of stress factors . The popularity of biochemical and subcellular approaches increased later on, when advances in molecular biology gave rise to new scientific disciplines, such as proteomics and genomics, dealing with cellular structure and functions .…”

Foreword

“…The use of subindividual endpoints (biomarkers, omics, etc.) received much attention in ecotoxicology for a long time (Peakall ; Payne ; Van Aggelen et al ). It has been proven that these approaches may represent excellent early‐warning indicators of exposure to stress factors, but the real meaning in terms of potential effects on population dynamics or community structure and function is largely unknown.…”