Protein Metabolic Profiles and Ultrastructural Studies in Rat Liver During Cypermethrin Toxicosis

To evaluate the toxic effect of cypermethrin on rat liver its sublethal doses (41 mg/kg bw) were administered orally as single, double and multiple doses at 48 h interval. The protein metabolic profiles and histological changes in different groups and ultrastructural changes in multiple dose treated groups were studied. Total proteins decreased, whereas, free amino acids and the activity of protease, AST, ALT and GDH as well as ammonia and urea increased (P<0.05) in cypermethrin – exposed rats. The ultrastructural changes were dense chromatin condensation (clumping) at the centre of nucleus, fragmentation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, ruptured mitochondria and peroxysomes and disappearance of secretory vesicles. These changes indicated cypermethrin's toxic effects on cellular functioning. Such changes can lead to apoptotic and necrotic cell death due to various cellular organelles dysfunction.