Teratogenic and biochemical effects of a formulation containing dicofol in the chick embryo

Abstract

The insecticide formulation, dicofol (18.5% EC) was evaluated for its toxic potential in developing chick embryo. Fertilized eggs of Gallus domesticus on 4th day of incubation were immersed in aqueous emulsions of dicofol at concentrations of 250 mg L⁻¹, 500 mg L⁻¹, and 1000 mg L⁻¹ for 60 min at 37°C. These concentrations were corresponding to those used in plant protection practice (500 mg L⁻¹). Two control groups of eggs were used: one group was immersed in distilled water (vehicle) and the second group was kept as untreated to study background toxicity. On embryonic day 7; recovered embryos were evaluated for mortality rate, wet body weight, gross morphological malformations, and some biochemical changes. The result revealed that administration of dicofol did not result in significant changes in wet body weight of embryo but the survival rate of dicofol treated embryos were markedly reduced as compared with controls. Among the survivors, the number of malformations was exhibited by dicofol treated embryos in dose-dependent manner. Among biochemical changes, only total protein content of embryo significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced to 500 mg L⁻¹ and 1000 mg L⁻¹. Among enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase activities were affected, which showed significant elevations.

Keywords:

• dicofol
• miticide
• teratology
• embryotoxic
• morphology

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully thank University Grant Commission, Bhopal, India (Grant No. 140/304071/09-10/CRO) for providing funding and logistical support for this study. We wish to thank P.V. Mohanan for his helpful suggestions and discussions related to this manuscript.