Impact of quinalphos on blood glucose and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in brain and pancreas in a roseringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri borealis: Newmann)

Abstract

Quinalphos (O,O-diethyl O-2-quinoxalinyl phosphorothioate), an organophosphate pesticide, was orally administered in graded sublethal doses (5 μg-, 10 μg- and 20 μg/ 100 g body mass/day) for 10 consecutive days to study the effects on the levels of blood glucose, liver- and muscle-glycogen, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the brain and pancreas of adult male Roseringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri borealis). Orally administered pesticide caused a dose response significant augmentation of blood glucose level with depletion of hepatic glycogen level, and a dose response inhibition of AChE in the brain and pancreas. However, myoglycogen concentration in treated birds was almost identical to that in control parakeets. The available data suggest that increased blood glucose level and decreased hepatic glycogen concentration in quinalphos-exposed parakeets may be related to the degree of pesticide induced inhibition of AChE activity in brain and/or pancreas of the concerned birds.