Induction of glutathione S-transterase by fumigants in larvae of the Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium (E.)

Abstract

The effect of fumigants on glutathione and glutathione S-transferase in the Khapra beetle larvae ( Trogoderma granarium) was studied by fumigating for 1, 3, and 5 hr with a dose causing 100% mortality at 24 hr of exposure. Glutathione and glutathione S-transferase were assayed in the cytosol at 1, 3, and 5 hr of exposure. Time-dependent depletion of glutathione was seen for all fumigants except carbon tetrachloride and phosphine. The depletion was maximum (60–70%) in the cases of methyl bromide, methyl iodide, and acrylonitrile, and least (20–30%) in the cases of ethylene dibromide and ethylene oxide. The order of glutathione depletion by various fumigants at 5 hr exposure was methyl iodide > methyl bromide = acrylonitrile > ethylene dichloride > ethylene oxide > ethylene dibromide. Glutathione S-transferase was induced by all fumigants except ethylene dibromide, methyl bromide being more potent than methyl iodide. The enzyme induction ranged from 186% by acrylonitrile to 40% by carbon tetrachloride. Mortality above 10% correlated well with the degree of GSH depletion ( r = 0.729) whereas the latter did not correlate with the transferase induction.