Abstract
In vitro sensitivity of rat brain and liver ATPases to pyrethroid insecticides, belonging to three categories based on the structural configuration, was studied. Rat brain and liver p 2 fractions were prepared by the conventional centrifugation method, and rat brain synaptosomes were prepared by Ficoll‐sucrose gradient centrifugation method. Na+, K+‐ATPase and oligomycin‐sensitive and ‐insensitive Mg2+‐ ATPases were determined in brain P 2 fraction, whereas in liver P 2 fraction only oligomycin‐sensitive and ‐insensitive Mg2+‐ATPase activities were determined. [ 3 H]Ouabain binding studies were carried with rat brain synaptosomes. Most of the pyrethroid compounds tested inhibited brain and liver oligomycin‐sensitive Mg 2+ ‐ATPases at micromolar concentrations. Type II compounds were more effective as compared to Type I compounds. Oligomycin‐insensitive Mg 2+ ‐ATPase was not affected by any of the compounds tested except deltamethrin, which showed significant effect on liver enzyme. Na+, K+‐ATPase of brain was less sensitive to these pyrethroids as compared to oligomycin‐sensitive Mg2+‐ATPase. [ 3 H]Ouabain binding to rat brain synaptosomes was not affected significantly by these pyrethroid insecticides. These results suggest that inhibition of oligomycin‐sensitive Mg 2+ ‐ATPase may be involved in the toxicity of pyrethroid compounds.