Brain-acetylcholinesterase inhibition in a marine teleost during lethal and sublethal exposures to 1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethyl dimethyl phosphate (naled) in seawater

Abstract

To determine if brain-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition in a marine teleost Lagodon rhomboides (pinfish) by an organophosphate pesticide (naled) is specific enough to diagnose anticholinesterase poisoning, brain-AChE inhibition by sublethal exposure in seawater was compared to brain-AChE inhibition caused by lethal exposure. A sublethl exposure did not inhibit brain-AChE as much as lethal exposure in periods of 24, 48, and 72 hr. Consistent levels of inhibition (84–89% inhibition) occurred when 40–60% of an exposed population of pinfish was killed. This correlation of brain-AChE inhibition with exposure and death in a fish population shows that brain-AChE measurements are of value in diagnosing anticholinesterase poisoning in a marine fish.