Ultrastructural hepatic changes by carbamate pesticide (Sevin) in rats

• Published in: Environmental research 1978-01, Vol.16 (1), p.191-204
• Main Authors: Wakakura, Masato, Ishikawa, Satoshi, Uga, Shigekazu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Carbaryl - pharmacology; Insulin - blood; Liver - drug effects; Liver - ultrastructure; Liver Glycogen - metabolism; Male; Rats; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/0013-9351(78)90155-X

Carbamate pesticide (1-naphthyl- N-methyl carbamate, Sevin) was administered orally to adult male rats with an average body weight of 200 g on a short-term (a single 30-mg dose per rat) as well as a long-term (fifty 3-mg doses per rat over a 1-year period) basis. The feeding schedule was strictly controlled by allowing 3 hr of feeding followed by 21 hr of fasting. The short-term group was sacrificed 20 and 44 hr after the administration of Sevin and the long-term group was sacrificed 60 days after the termination of the treatment. At the time of sacrifice, biochemical measurements of blood glucose and serum immunoreactive insulin were made. The findings were compared with those from a group of untreated control animals. Blood glucose was reduced at 20 hr and elevated at 44 hr, whereas immunoreactive insulin was elevated, particularly at 44 hr. The agranular endoplasmic reticulum increased at 44 hr. Swollen mitochondria were seen at both times but were more obvious at 44 hr. In the long-term group, blood glucose was elevated and immunoreactive insulin was slightly reduced. Glycogen disappeared in most of the hepatocytes. The cells contained predominantly dilated granular endoplasmic reticulum with swollen mitochondria. These data indicate that Sevin administered orally over both the long and short term appears to involve the hepatic glycogen metabolism.