Abstract

Dr. Sabiha Khan*

ABSTRACT

Among the pesticides used in agriculture, the organochlorine insecticide and acaricide endosulfan is still extensively used against pests in poor countries especially on crops such as tea, coffee, cotton and rice, The present study showed that repeated administration of endosulfan causes a marked alteration in the levels of dopamine and 5 HT receptors. The decrease in the dopamine receptor binding suggests disturbance in the dopaminergic system, due to endosulphan exposure, Dop amine system plays a significant role in the regulation of locomotor activity. The maximum number of binding sites for dopamine and an increase in serotonin receptor sites without any change in the binding affinity was observed after administration of endosulfan in albino rats .In the treated rats, a significant dose-dependent increase in the binding of [3H]-5 HT in the frontal cortex was seen after 19 hours However, no such effect was observed after 5 hours of treatment and no significant changes were detected in GABA receptor binding following exposure to endosulfan. Monoamine oxidase activity was significantly decreased in animals exposed to a dose of 5 mg and 15 mg/kg body weight for 20 days.