Content of glutathione and vitamin C in the liver of rats exposed to dimethoate and pyrantel tartrate

The study was undertaken to examine the effect of oral administration of dimethoate (Bi 58 Nowy) and/or pyrantel tartrate on the concentration of glutathione (GSH) and vitamin C in rat liver. Rats of Group I were administered pyrantel tartrate at a dose of 85 mg/kg b.w. at a two-week interval, while the animals of Group II received Bi 58 Nowy (38% dimethoate) at a dose of 25 mg/kg b.w. for 28 days, and animals of Group III received both compounds together as described above. Pyrantel tartrate was found to increase the concentration of glutathione in the liver, whereas the content of vitamin C oscillated around values reported for the control. After a 28-day exposure to dimethoate (Bi 58 Nowy), except for the 61 hour after intoxication, the content of GSH was observed to increase and significant differences (p <= 0.05) occurred after days 3 and 14 (p <= 0.01). The concentration of vitamin C in liver homogenates after dimethoate administration was decreased compared to the control until day 3. An increase was then observed continuing until the end of the experiment. In animals receiving both compounds, except for day 7, the concentration of vitamin C was slightly decreased. The administration of pyrantel tartrate before dimethoate (Bi 58 Nowy) only in some time intervals was found to reduce the intensity of changes evoked by the exclusive administration of insecticide. It may suggest that not in all cases of mixed intoxications, intensification should be expected in changes of the variables analyzed.