Toxicological profile of pregnant Wistar rats after exposure to Some commonly used household aerosol insecticides in Nigeria.

Abstract

This study evaluated the toxicity of selected household aerosol insecticide formulations on pregnant Wistar rats. Healthy, twenty-four pregnant Wistar rats (210.05 ± 1.13 g) were randomized into four groups. Sham control was not exposed to insecticide, while rats in groups A, B and C were exposed to household aerosol insecticide A (HAIA), B (HAIB) and C (HAIC) for 21 days. The results revealed loss of fur and significant (P<0.05) reduction in total number of foetuses, weight of foetuses and number of life foetuses of the aerosol exposed pregnant rats when compared with the sham control. The HAIA, HAIB and HAIC significantly (P<0.05) reduced the activities of ALP, AST and ALT in the liver with corresponding increases in the serum enzymes. The HAIA, HAIB and HAIC significantly (P<0.05) reduced the serum total protein, albumin, globulin, Na+ , K+ and Cl and MCV; levels of SOD, catalase, GPX and GRed in the liver, kidney and ovary contents of the pregnant rats whereas serum total bilirubin and conjugated bilirubin contents, WBC, RBC, PVC and malondialdehyde contents in the liver, kidney, ovary and serum of pregnant rats increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the sham control, only HAIA reduced the kidney ALP activity whereas it was only HAIC that increased the kidney ALT activity. Serum urea and creatinine levels, MCH and platelets were not significantly altered by HAIA, HAIB and HAIC. Exposure of pregnant rats to HAIA, HAIB and HAIC deranged the lobular architecture of the hepatocytes, central veins and portal tracts of the liver of the animals. Thus, the household aerosol insecticides adversely affected the functional indices of the liver and kidney of pregnant Wistar rats as well as liver histoarchitecture via oxidative mechanism.