Effects of Combined Exposure to Dichlorvos and Monocrotophos on Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Blind use of organophosphates as pesticides for enhancing productivity in agriculture leads to hormonal imbalance, infertility, thyroid dysfunctioning and the degree of effects produced depends on the extent of exposure to pesticides. Thus, the present study was planned to determine the effect of individual and combined exposure to dichlorvos (DDVP) and monocrotophos (MCP) on some selected biochemical variables suggestive of hepatic damage in rats. The monocrotophos clearly possessed the propensity to exacerbate hepatotoxicity when administered even at a relatively low dose, while the exact mechanisms by which monocrotophos potentiate the toxicity needs further investigation. The possibility of oxidative stress in the augmentation of hepatotoxicity was investigated that MCP is more potent in inducing oxidative stress. Therefore, the present study provides some interesting new observations for possible co-exposure to organophosphates. The coexposure to DDVP and MCP may produce synergistic effects at some extent.