Temporal patterns of brain cholinesterase activities of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) following dosing with diazinon or parathion.

Abstract

Brain cholinesterase (ChE) activities were determined for white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) orally dosed with either diazinon (18.8 mg/kg body weight) or parathion (10 mg/kg body weight). Following treatment with diazinon, a latent period of approximately six hr elapsed during which time ChE activity was relatively unaffected. After the latent phase, ChE activity rapidly declined to a minimum 12 hr after dosing. After 48 hr, ChE activity recovered to levels only slightly below that of the controls. The response of both male and female white-footed mouse brain ChE to dosing with parathion was similar to that exhibited by animals dosed with diazinon. ChE activities declined rapidly at 6 hr and reached a minimum 24 hr after dosing. ChE activity of treated animals was comparable to that of controls 48 hr after treatment. Brain ChE activities of treated female white-footed mice were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of treated males.