Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, (Uttaranchal).
*E-mail: raviravindra1@rediffmail.com
A study was conducted to explore the in vitro immunotoxic effects of chlorpyrifos- an organophosphate insecticide on avian lymphocytes. Lymphocytes separated from spleen of birds were treated with NOEL/103, NOEL/104 and NOEL/105 dose of chlorpyrifos. DNA was then isolated and examined using agarose gel electrophoresis for ladder pattern. Results revealed a clear ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation in comparison to controls, which is a hall mark of apoptosis. Therefore, it is concluded that the chlorpyrifos executes immunotoxicity by inducing apoptotic death in lymphocytes.
Chlorpyrifos, Avian lymphocytes, Apoptosis, DNA ladder pattern
