Effect of oral administration of imidacloprid on lipid peroxidation in Rat

Technical-grade Imidacloprid was evaluated for its effect on lipid peroxidation (LPO) in male rats in 90-day oral exposure. Lipids that contain unsaturated fatty acids are particularly susceptible to action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and resulting as LPO. The most common method used is the estimation of aldehyde products such as melondialdehyde (MDA), by their ability to react with thiobarbituric acid. A total of 54 male Wistar rats, weighing in the range of 140160 g was randomly divided into three groups each contain 18 rats. Group 1 was treated as control and other two groups were experimental, and treated with dose rates of 1/20^th and 1/10^th of LD₅₀ of Imidacloprid, respectively. Six rats out of 18 in each experimental group were randomly sacrificed after using ether anaesthesia on the 30, 60 and 90 days, and LPO was estimated in liver, kidney and heart. The level of LPO measured in terms of MDA was significantly increased in liver, kidney and heart at the higher dose. The level of MDA formed is higher in liver than kidney and heart. Pesticide-mediated toxicity involves excessive production of ROS that leads to LPO and finally culminating into damage to various vital tissues of liver, kidney and heart.