Pesticides are widely used in agriculture
and livestock production
with
potential health hazards. This
study
aimed to compare toxic effects
of
sub-lethal doses of cypermethrin
and
methomyl on rats and to investigate
the spontaneous reversibility of
these
effects after discontinuation of
exposure.
Fifty adult male rats were
randomly
divided into three main
groups.
Group 1 (20 rats) was given
cypermethrin
orally as 5 mg/kg daily,
group < br />2 (20 rats) was given methomyl
orally as 1 mg/kg daily and the
third
group (10 rats) served as a control.
After one month, half of animals
(10
rats) from test groups (group 1a
and
group 2a) beside the control
group < br />were weighed and sacrificed. The remaining rats were kept without
treatment for 2 weeks then weighed
and sacrificed (group 1b and group < br />2b). Serum aspartate transaminase,
alanine transaminase and creatinine
were determined. Histopathological
examination of liver, kidney and
testes from each rat were carried
out. Results showed that both methomyl
and cypermethrin induced reversible
toxic effects to liver, kidney
and
testes. The present results
should
give continued emphasis to
the
correct handling and use of
these
insecticides at the recommended
rates, dose and duration.