FERUM AND CUPRUM CONTENT IN TISSUES OF DIFFERENT ORGANS OF RATS INTOXICATED BY CHLORPYRIFOS
Chlorpyrifos (O,O-diethyl-O-3,5,6-trichlor-2-pyridylphospfothioate, C <sub>9</sub>H <sub>11</sub>Cl <sub>3</sub>NO <sub>3</sub>PS) is one of the most widely used organophosphate pesticides worldwide. Like other organophosphates, it causes inhibition of the acethylcholinesterase — an enzyme, which function is to degrade acethylcholine, a neuromediator activating cholinergic neurons. However, chlorpyrifos toxicity is not limited by this mechanism, but can also be mediated by other metabolic pathways. In animal tissues specific changes can occur, manifested in increased or decreased content of some essential elements, particularly metals. The aim of the study was to investigate changes in iron and copper concentrations in rat brain, myocardium, liver, and kidney tissues after 1, 3, 6, and 10 days after single chlorpyrifos application at 30 mg/kg body weight. Adult male Wistar rats were studied. Animals were housed under standard vivarium conditions with 12-hour dark/light period and unlimited access to water and food. Studied metals content in animal tissues was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. We found a tissue-specific and experiment period-dependent effects of chlorpyrifos exposure on iron and copper content in the studied organs. The largest iron accumulation was observed in the brain, liver, and kidney tissues of intoxicated animals, whereas myocardial tissue level was lower than in control group. It was shown that chlorpyrifos intoxication caused a decrease in copper concentration in myocardium, liver, and kidney tissues, and almost no effect on brain tissue, and the most prominent decrease of copper concentration in these organs was observed on 6th and 10th days after chlorpyrifos exposure.