<i>In vitro </i>effects of organophosphate pesticides on rat erythrocytes

Abstract

<i>In vitro </i>effects of various organophosphate pesticides (dimethoate, chlorpyrifos, ethion and monocrotophos) were studied on hemolysis, K⁺ leakage and lipid peroxidation in rat erythrocytes. All the four pesticides increased hemolysis and K⁺ leakage from erythrocytes, that was concentration and time dependent. On the contrary, there was decrease in lipid

peroxidation in erythrocyte membrane. Effect of pesticides on lipid peroxidation could be due to pesticide itself abstracting protons or interacting with free radicals rather than polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), thereby protecting the latter against peroxidation.