Carbofuran triggers flight motor output in pyrethroid-blocked reflex pathways of the house fly

The initiation of flight from loss of tarsal contact (flight reflex responses) and the tergotrochanteral muscle (TTM) responses evoked by brain stimulation were analyzed during carbofuran, permethrin, deltamethrin, and DDT poisoning in the house fly. Blockage of the flight reflex by LD₅₀ doses of permethrin or deltamethrin was rapid, but the effects of DDT on the flight reflex took hours to develop. In addition, carbofuran treatment induced spontaneous flight in blocked preparations by an action in the central nervous system. This result suggests that pyrethroid blockage of the flight reflex was due to an action on sensory nerves, since the central flight program and its associated efferent systems were functionally intact. The relevance of this finding in terms of pyrethroid knockdown is discussed. The TTM response was unaffected by permethrin or deltamethrin both early and late in the poisoning process, possibly because the evoked TTM response does not involve peripheral sensory nerves, which seem to be important sites of pyrethroid action early in poisoning. Carbofuran induced repetitive firing and blockage of the TTM response within 1 hr, but normal responses were observed late in poisoning, which is consistent with the reversibility of carbamate inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. DDT caused no change in the evoked TTM response until bursts were recorded about 15 hr after treatment; this was another example of a slowly developing DDT effect. The protracted development of various DDT actions was concordant with a hypothesis of reduced efficacy at a proposed target site, viz., the sodium channels of nerve membranes.     

Inhibition of DNA synthesis by diflubenzuron in pupae of the stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)

Biochemical assays of stable fly pupae treated with diflubenzuron at the white prepupal stage and then injected with either [³H]thymidine or [¹⁴C]thymidine showed no differences in uptake of the thymidine at 0–4, 0–24, 20–21, or 22–24 hr after injection of the radiolabeled thymidine. However, at 32–36 hr the diflubenzuron pupae incorporated only 10–11% of the amount of labeled thymidine incorporated by the untreated pupae. Autoradiographs taken from diflubenzuron-treated pupae at 22–24 and 32–36 hr after injection of the labeled thymidine showed that a reduction in DNA synthesis had occurred in cells originating from the imaginal epidermal histoblasts. The reduction in DNA synthesis at 22–24 hr was not detectable by the biochemical assay since the number of proliferating epidermal cells was too small a proportion of the total number of cells undergoing histogenesis at this time period. Thus, the insect growth regulator, diflubenzuron, appears to be cell specific in this species of fly in that the reduction in DNA synthesis is observed only in cells originating from the imaginal epidermal histoblasts. However, it is not known at this time whether this effect is primary or secondary.     

Comparative ester hydrolysis of carbaryl and ethiofencarb in four mammalian species

The comparative ester hydrolysis and selective toxicity of carbamate insecticides were studied in four mammalian species. Hydrolysis rates of carbaryl and ethiofencarb (Croneton) were examined in the rat, mouse, guinea pig, and gerbil. Respiratory ¹⁴CO₂ resulting from the hydrolysis of orally administered [carbonyl-¹⁴C]carbamates (0.2 mg/kg) was taken as measure of in vivo hydrolytic capabilities. Ester hydrolysis was found to be greater for ethiofencarb than for carbaryl in all species tested, although the relative order of hydrolysis among species was the same with both compounds. After 24 hr, gerbils had hydrolyzed 91% of the ethiofencarb and 65% of the carbaryl. Guinea pigs hydrolyzed somewhat less of the compounds, 65 and 58%, but considerably more than rats and mice, about 40 and 25%. Comparing hydrolysis capabilities to acute toxicity data revealed that those species exhibiting the greatest hydrolysis were equally or more susceptible to carbamate poisoning than those having lesser hydrolytic capabilities. While ester hydrolysis destroys the anticholinesterase activity of carbamates, it is clear from these findings that factors other than hydrolysis are largely responsible for the variation in toxicity of the carbamates to different mammalian species.     

The toxic action of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis in Aedes aegypti in vivo: I. The relevance of midgut lesions to its poisoning syndrome

The relevance of midgut lesions to the in vivo toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis crystal toxin (BTI) ingested by Aedes aegypti larvae has been examined. Progressive poisoning of mosquito larvae by BTI (4 μg/ml) is characterized by cessation of feeding within 1 hr, reduced activity by 2 hr, extreme sluggishness by 4 hr, and general body paralysis by 6 hr. The effect of BTI on the posterior midgut ultrastructure was detected as early as 1 hr when the epithelial striated border was damaged. This was followed by swelling of epithelial cells and destruction of cellular organelles. Midgut circular and longitudinal muscles were also damaged by BTI treatment, as indicated by their swelling and separation from the basement lamina. Six hours after BTI treatment the midgut wall was severely ruptured with the peritrophic membrane and basement lamina broken, making open channels between the gut lumen and hemocoel. Of these lesions, disruption of microvilli and epithelial swelling in the midgut coincided with the cessation of feeding. The sluggish behavior and paralysis of insects occurred only at advanced stages of BTI poisoning when the midgut was severely disrupted. The cellular lesions that follow initial BTI action upon midgut epithelial may be crucial to the general body paralysis observed after ingestion of this toxin.     

Neural and behavioral correlates of pyrethroid and DDT-type poisoning in the house fly, Musca domestica L

Intact house flies were observed during poisoning caused by several pyrethroid and DDT-type insecticides. The two insecticide classes could be generally distinguished from each other based on differences in symptoms and several physiological correlates. Both insecticide types caused motor unit repetitive backfiring, but the temporal development and stability of repetitiveness were distinctly different between the two classes. Repetitive backfiring always disappeared at low temperatures, but DDT-type backfiring disappeared at lower temperatures than the pyrethroids. trans-Tetramethrin caused a threshold increase in flight motor nerve endings which did not occur in DDT or trans-Barthrin poisoning. Pyrethroids caused “uncoupling” of the flight motor pattern, while DDT-types did not. trans-Barthrin, a methylenedioxyphenyl pyrethroid, was unique in causing both symptoms and physiological aberrations which more closely resembled those of the DDT-types than the pyrethroids.     

Distinguishing between carbamate and organophosphate insecticide poisoning in house flies by symptomology

Three criteria, latency to convulsions, still period, and recovery are used to distinguish between carbamate and phosphate insecticide poisoning in house flies, Musca domestica. Because of shorter latencies with carbamate-treated flies, the central nervous system was considered more sensitive to the presence of carbamates than phosphates. Recovery from carbamate-induced tetany was considered correlated with reactivation of carbamylated cholinesterase. There appeared to be a fundamental difference between the insecticidal actions of carbamates and phosphates not wholly explainable by cholinesterase inhibition. Tethered or held house flies were less susceptible to poisoning than unrestrained flies.     

Analogy in the mode of action of fluotrimazole and clotrimazole in Ustilago avenae

Fluotrimazole [BUE 0620; 1-(3-trifluoromethyltriphenyl) 1,2,4-triazole] (20 μg/ml of nutrient solution) and clotrimazole [Bay b 5097; bisphenyl(2-chlorophenyl)-1-imidazolyl methane] (5 μg/ml) did not inhibit dry weight increase and only slightly reduced multiplication of sporidia of Ustilago avenae during the first doubling period (about 4 hr). After 8 hr, both fluotrimazole and clotrimazole more strongly inhibited sporidia multiplication than dry weight increase. As a consequence of treatment with both fungicides the usually single-celled sporidia appear swollen, multicellular, and branched. Both chemicals at a concentration range of 5–100 μg/ml did not affect oxidation of glucose. The effect of fluotrimazole and clotrimazole on protein, DNA, and RNA synthesis was similar to that on dry weight. Following a 6-hr incubation period total lipid synthesis was quantitatively unaffected by both chemicals. As the analysis of major fatty acids of total lipids revealed fluotrimazole substantially induced the synthesis of 20:4 carbon fatty acids, while in clotrimazole-treated sporidia the pattern of fatty acids did not differ from that of control sporidia. Fluotrimazole and clotrimazole produced a higher quantity of free fatty acids in sporidia of U. avenae. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of sterol fractions in treated and control sporidia (6 hr) indicated that both fluotrimazole and clotrimazole seriously inhibited ergosterol biosynthesis and concomitantly caused an accumulation of immediate ergosterol precursors which represent C-4-methyl and 4,4-dimethyl sterols. Incorporation of [¹⁴C]acetate for 2 hr into various lipid fractions of sporidia of U. avenae also revealed that radioactivity in C-4-desmethyl sterols in both fluotrimazole- and clotrimazole-treated sporidia was drastically reduced, while the radioactivity of C-4-methyl and 4,4-dimethyl sterols distinctly increased. The data suggest that fluotrimazole and clotrimazole are specific inhibitors of the oxidative demethylation of the C-14-methyl group during ergosterol biosynthesis in U. avenae.     

Long-term effects of DDT on the behavior and central nervous system activity in Periplaneta americana

The effects of p,p′-DDT and four of its analogs on electrical activity in the central nervous system of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.), were investigated. Cockroaches were injected intraabdominally with an organochlorine compound at LD₅₀ 96-hr doses (except for p,p′-DDE). Extracellular recordings were made from the central nervous system at 1 hr, 24 hr, or 3 weeks postinjection. p,p′-DDT, methoxychlor, and p,p′-DDD induced behavioral changes (tremors, jitters, hyperexcitability) and repetitive firing in the central nervous system prior to 1 hr postinjection. By 24 hr postinjection, most behavioral signs of poisoning had disappeared, though repetitive firing could still be readily elicited in the central nervous system. Cockroaches injected with o,p′-DDT, however, usually required about 48 hr before overt signs of poisoning became apparent. Cockroaches treated with p,p′-DDT or o,p′-DDT behaved normally at 3 weeks postinjection but still displayed a significant occurrence of repetitive firing in the central nervous system. A mechanism is proposed to explain how a cockroach might recover behaviorally from a sublethal dose of an organochlorine compound but still display repetitive firing in its central nervous system. A direct “cause and effect” relationship between repetitive firing in the central nervous system and mortality (and external signs of poisoning) is therefore questioned.     

Synergism of organophosphorus insecticides by diethyl maleate and related compounds in house flies

The toxicity of several organophosphorus and one carbamate insecticide for house flies is enhanced by simultaneous administration of diethyl maleate. Synergism factors vary from 2 to 116 and are strongly dependent on the combination of strain and insecticide studied. In general, it seems that thiono compounds are less synergized than their oxon analogs. Comparison of some analogs of maleic acid esters showed that the diethyl ester was not the most active compound. trans-Phenylbutenone was found to be a good alternative for diethyl maleate. Both diethyl maleate and trans-phenylbutenone deplete glutathione in the flies, but this depletion per se is certainly not the most important mode of action. In vitro experiments made clear that sufficient glutathione remained to permit a substantial insecticide degradation rate. Moreover, treatment of the flies with diethyl maleate 2–4 hr before the insecticide application resulted in a partial or complete disappearance of synergism in a period in which the glutathione concentration in the flies was still very low. Apart from this effect on the glutathione levels in the insect tissues it appeared from further experimental work in vitro that both compounds had a direct inhibitory effect on glutathione-dependent transferase(s) as well as on oxidative enzymes involved in insecticide degradation. The contribution of these reactions to the eventual synergism factor is discussed.     

Importance of pH in assessing the potential for nitrosocarbamate formation in the stomach

Formation of the nitroso derivatives of ¹⁴C-labeled carbaryl, carbofuran, and p-chlorophenyl methylcarbamate (PCMC), and their subsequent stabilities were investigated using low levels of carbamate (0.5 μmol) and aqueous HCl concentrations encompassing those considered maximum for the gastric contents of humans (pH 1–2) and of rats (pH 3–4). Reacting the carbamates with excess sodium nitrite for 10 min at 37°C in a pH 1.0 HCl solution gave nitrosocarbamate yields of 42 to 64%, while only trace amounts were formed at pH 2 and above. The nitrosocarbamates were most stable at pH 3–5 with half-lives ranging from 114 to 470 min. Stability of all three nitroso derivatives was considerably less at pH 1.5 ($\text{t}\text{1}\text{2}$, 25–34 min), but at pH 7 the stability varied: nitroso-PCMC $\text{t}\text{1}\text{2}$, 6 min; nitrosocarbofuran $\text{t}\text{1}\text{2}$, 70 min; nitrosocarbaryl $\text{t}\text{1}\text{2}$, 139 min. Denitrosation to the parent carbamate was the predominant degradation pathway at pH 1.5, but at pH 3–7 degradation was primarily by hydrolysis of the carbamate ester linkage. Each of the nitrosocarbamates was directly mutagenic in the S. typhimurium assay system. Since the data show that nitrosation of residue levels of carbamate pesticides occurs readily at pH 1 but not at pH 2 and above, it is critical that gastric contents of any animal model used for assessing nitrosocarbamate formation have a pH approaching 1 as may occur in the human stomach.     

Toxicokinetics of carbofuran in house fly, Musca domestica L

The kinetics of accumulation and elimination of lethal doses of [¹⁴C]carbofuran in the hemolymph of the house fly suggest a one-compartment open model. Carbofuran in the hemolymph appeared to be in equilibrium with that in the tissues very soon after treatment.Following topical application of carbofuran, the rate of onset of symptoms of poisoning was correlated with the amount of carbofuran in the hemolymph, and the onset of convulsions only occurred after the concentration of carbofuran in the hemolymph reached μM levels. This value correlated well with neurobioassays of known concentrations of carbofuran perfused in saline onto the isolated thoracic ganglion.Following topical doses, carbofuran concentration in the hemolymph reached a peak within an hour and then gradually declined. At an LD₆₀ dose, the initial decline in carbofuran concentration in the hemolymph over time was significantly slower than the decline after an LD₁₀ dose, suggesting saturation kinetics.Hemolymph was collected from house flies for up to 3 hr following topical application of toxic amounts of carbofuran. Thereafter, hemolymph volume decreased and blood samples could not be collected. Curiously, hemolymph samples could be collected for 5 hr from house flies that were injected with toxic doses of carbofuran.     

The effects of low oxygen tensions on three stored-product insect pests

The relationship between different oxygen tensions and exposure times producing 95% mortality, and loss in weight of three stored-product insects at 54% R.H. and 26°C, was determined.Ephestia cautella (Wlk.) pupae andTribolium castaneum (Herbst) adults reacted in a similar pattern: the lower the oxygen concentration, the shorter the exposure time needed to produce 95% mortality, and the higher the rate of loss in weight. The response ofSitophilus oryzae (L.) adults was different: there was greater sensitivity at 1% oxygen than at the lower or higher levels of oxygen tested. A relationship was demonstrated between low oxygen tensions (0–5%) and the relative humidity of the environment for producing a lethal atmosphere forE. cautella pupae andT. castaneum adults.     

Interaction of substerilizing Gamma radiation and thiodicarb treatment for management of the Tobacco caterpillarSpodoptera litura

The F₁ sterility technique (inherited sterility using substerile insects) has been proposed for reproductive suppression of lepidopteran pests. Management of lepidopteran pests using F₁ sterility may be greatly influenced by other possible strategies, including chemical control measures. Within this context, a laboratory investigation was undertaken of the tobacco caterpillarSpodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to assess the bioefficacy of a substerilizing dose (70 Gy) of gamma radiation on bio-characteristics(viz., adult survival, fecundity, egg hatch, F₁ larval weight, F₁ pupation, F₁ sex ratio); to establish the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of an oxime carbamate insecticide, thiodicarb (Larvin®75 WP), toS. litura; and determine the interaction of thiodicarb with the F₁ insects derived from a substerilizing gamma dose. A dose of 70 Gy administered to 7-day-old male pupae reduced the the eclosion by ~ 10%. When the eclosed males (derived from treated pupae) were mated with normal females, the fecundity and fertility were decreased as compared with control (0 Gy). Analysis of body weight of the F₁ larvae showed no significant influence of radiation,i.e., growth was comparable to that of normal progeny, which is a positive factor in the sterile-insect technique. Bioassay on newly molted 6th instar larvae with thiodicarb (Larvin®75 WP) showed that the LD₅₀ of the insecticide was 6.76µg g^-1 in the combined treatment (radiation to P₁ male pupae + thiodicarb to F₁ larvae), as compared with 28.67 µg g_-1 in the chemical treatment (thiodicarb), indicating that the toxicity of the insecticide to the F₁ progeny was increased 4.24 times by the radiation treatment, which is a markedly pronounced effect. Further studies of the combined effect of radiation and insecticide on pupation and sex ratio of F₁ progeny showed that pupation was affected more by the combined treatment than by the insecticide alone, whereas the sex ratio was skewed in favor of males in both the combined treatment and the chemical treatment, indicating that thiodicarb was selectively more toxic to females. The possible interaction and potential and the feasible approaches of integrating F₁ sterility and thiodicarb treatment are discussed for management of the lepidopteran pestS. litura.     

Metabolism of [14C]vernolate in soybeans

Penetration and metabolism of [¹⁴C]vernolate in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. var Ransom] pods and seeds were measured 0, 1, 4, 24, 48, or 72 hr after treatment which occurred at 40 days after flowering. Total ¹⁴C recovery decreased ca. 50% within 4 hr and the loss of ¹⁴C was considered to be a measure of volatility. Total nonpolar extractants decreased in a logarithmic pattern which approached 10% of total ¹⁴C recovered within 24–48 hr. Total polar extractants increased in a logarithmic pattern to a maximum of 90% of total ¹⁴C recovered within 24 hr. Seed nonpolar extractants never exceeded 2% of the total ¹⁴C recovered while pod nonpolar extractants consisted of vernolate plus an unidentified component that did not thin-layer chromatograph (TLC) as the sulfone or sulfoxide. Pod polar extractants increased with time to ca. 75% of the total ¹⁴C recovered (24–48 hr) and decreased to ca. 58% at 72 hr after treatment. Seed polar extractants averaged ca. 10% of total ¹⁴C recovered for the first 48 hr after treatment and then increased to 30% of total ¹⁴C recovered. Thus, [¹⁴C]vernolate per se concentration decreased to <1% of applied material within 72 hr through volatilization and degradation of nonpolar extractants to polar products. Polar metabolites showed two major patterns of vernolate detoxification. One detoxification system produced ¹⁴C-metabolites whose R_f's were equivalent to that reported in corn (Zea mays L.) [J. P. Hubbell and J. E. Casida, [J. Agric. Food Chem. 25, 404 (1977)] and accounted for <30% of the pod polar extractants. A second detoxification system was most prevalent in soybean pod and seed tissues and resulted in very rapid modification of vernolate with an unidentified product that was 85% of the extracted ¹⁴C within 4 hr after treatment and which decreased in concentration with time. Therefore, unexplained vernolate detoxification system(s) exist in soybean pod and seed.     

Penetration and metabolism of [14C]carbaryl in larvae of the gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar (L.)

The absorption and metabolism of topical doses of carbaryl by larvae of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), were determined using ¹⁴C-ring-labeled material. Carbaryl penetration followed four distinct phases of linear absorption, i.e., 0–5 min, 5–60 min, 1–3 hr, and 3–12 hr; the absorption rates for the four phases were 2.8, 0.57, 0.07, and 0.02% per minute, respectively. Ninety percent of the total metabolism of carbaryl occurred within the first 3 hr; over the next 9 hr, metabolism was exceedingly slow with a linear rate of ca. 0.8% per hour. Carbaryl was always the major radiocarbon in the larvae and the feces, amounting to ca. 16 and 9%, respectively, at 12 hr. At 12 hr the metabolite composition was 5-hydroxy carbaryl >N-hydroxy carbaryl > 1-naphthol > 4-hydroxy carbaryl > 5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy carbaryl. Small amounts of an additional product were detected but not identified. Much of the excretion of carbaryl and metabolites occurred without conjugation. The amounts of carbaryl metabolized by second, third, fourth, and fifth instars were directly correlated with the insecticide tolerances and mixed-function oxidase activity of the various larval stages. The synergistic action of 2,6-dichlorobenzyl-2-propynyl ether and piperonyl butoxide was also correlated with inhibition of the oxidative pathway.     

寄生对菜粉蝶蛹血淋巴中血细胞和可溶性蛋白组份的影响

菜烩蝶Ｐｉｅｒｉｓ ｒａｐａｅ蛹被蝶蛹金小蜂Ｐｔｅｒｏｍａｌｕｓ ｐｕｐａｒｕｍ寄生后１～４ｄ,血细胞九、浆血细胞数、颗粒血细胞数和处于分裂期的浆血细胞数均显著高于同期未寄生蛹,而脂血九无明显差异。寄生后１２ｈ的寄生蛹与同期未寄生蛹的血淋巴可溶性蛋白浓度相差不大,而在寄生后１～４ｄ,寄生蛹的血淋巴可溶性蛋白浓度明显高于同期未寄生蛹。寄生蛹和未寄生蛹的血淋巴样品电泳凝胶扫描结果表明,寄生蛹和求学厅生     

Controlled release of aldicarb from carboxymethyl cellulose microspheres: in vitro and field applications

Aldicarb is a carbamate pesticide that is widely used throughout the world in the protection of crops (eg cotton, nuts, potatoes, onion, tobacco, sugar beet and sugar cane). In Turkey, especially in the Çukurova region, it is used for the control of the cotton white fly (Bemisia tabaci) which attacks cotton plants cultivated in this region. Aldicarb contamination in surface and ground water is a serious problem in several countries, partly due to its high water solubility. It is also highly toxic to mammals. In order to overcome these problems, microspheres of aldicarb were prepared using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the biodegradable support material cross-linked with aluminium chloride. A strong hysteresis behaviour was observed upon drying and reswelling. Encapsulation efficiency was in the range 12–23% and aldicarb contents of 5.7–10.3 mg per 100 mg of microspheres was achieved. In vitro release was distinctly Fickian, and Higuchi constants were very close to 0.5. Release in pots revealed that only one sample had a release capability for more than four weeks. In the cotton plot much longer durations of release (more than seven weeks) were observed while a commercial granular formulation released its content immediately. It was thus possible to construct a controlled pesticide release system that prolonged the bioavailability to about eight weeks. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of pyrethroid insecticides on EEG activity in conscious,immobilized rats

Preseizure and seizure EEG patterns elicited by the pyrethroid insecticides, deltamethrin and cis-permethrin, were compared in immobilized Sprague-Dawley rats. Deltamethrin (1–3 mg/kg, iv) produced a preseizure EEG pattern of high-amplitude, slow, 2- to 5-Hz synchronized cortical waves or spike-wave complexes. cis-Permethrin (20–40 mg/kg, iv) elicited an immediate EEG change characterized by 6- to 12-Hz high-amplitude waves with intermingled high-voltage spikes. DDT (50–70 mg/kg, iv) produced a sustained EEG activation similar to that seen after cis-permethrin, but of higher frequency. All three insecticides produced generalized EEG seizure activity, but this was more prominently associated with poisoning due to deltamethrin. cis-Permethrin and DDT gave rise to EEG seizures only at lethal doses. Electrodes stereotaxically positioned in ventral hippocampus, caudate, putamen, thalamus, septum, red nucleus, and cerebellum detected no preferential activation of any of these subcortical sites in either preconvulsive or convulsive phases of poisoning. These results indicate that both deltamethrin and cis-permethrin can have marked effects on mammalian EEG activity. This does not support the hypothesis of differing sites of action, i.e., peripheral vs. central, for the two types of compound. The more pronounced seizure-inducing action of deltamethrin may instead reflect a greater efficacy of cyanopyrethroids at target sites within the central nervous system.     

Symptoms of mirex,dieldrin, and DDT poisoning in the field cricket,Gryllus pennsylvanicus burmeister,and effect on activity of the central nerve cord

In the field cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus, the characteristic feature of mirex poisoning was the long latent period of at least 72 hr followed by hyperactivity, ataxia, and convulsions and paralysis. Dieldrin poisoning showed a short latent period followed directly by ataxia and convulsions and paralysis. The stages of DDT poisoning were locomotor instability, ataxia and convulsions and paralysis followed by death.Increased spontaneous activity of the central nerve cord in the initial stages of poisoning was characteristic for all three insecticides. DDT poisoned crickets showed DDT-type trains or groups of spikes in the central nerve cord during ataxia and early convulsions, but no synaptic after-discharges were observed at any stage of poisoning. Dieldrin and mirex poisoned crickets did not show DDT-type trains but a prolonged synaptic after-discharge was evident in the early stages of poisoning. In mirex poisoned crickets the increased spontaneous activity and the synaptic after-discharge was more acute than for dieldrin.     

Rapid effects of a thiocarbamate herbicide and its dichloroacetamide protectant on macromolecular syntheses and glutathione levels in maize cell cultures

The rapid effects of the thiocarbamate herbicide S-ethyl dipropyl thiocarbamate (EPTC) and the herbicide protectant N,N-diallyl-2,2-dichloroacetamide (DDCA) on macromolecular syntheses and glutathione (GSH) levels in maize cell cultures were studied to determine whether stimulation of GSH could be the primary mechanism of action of DDCA. EPTC (0.5 and 1 mM) reduced incorporation of radioactive precursors within 1 hr after treatment, and affected incorporation of [³H]acetate into lipids more than incorporation of [³H]adenosine into acid-precipitable nucleic acids, or [¹⁴C]protein hydrolysate into protein. [¹⁴C]EPTC was rapidly biotransformed within 8 hr by maize cell suspensions. Measureable decreases in GSH levels following treatment with 1 mM EPTC occurred after 15 hr. DDCA stimulated incorporation of [³H]acetate into lipids within 4 hr but did not affect incorporation of [¹⁴C]protein hydrolysate into protein or [³H]adenosine incorporation into nucleic acids. Measureable increases in GSH following DDCA treatment began after 12 hr. Treatment with EPTC and DDCA in combination inhibited incorporation of [³H]acetate into lipids less than EPTC given alone. Increases in GSH levels could be observed following pretreatments with glutathione precursors, but no protectant activity could be detected, in contrast to treatments with DDCA. It is suggested that DDCA has an initial rapid effect on lipid metabolism followed by a slower effect involving increases in cellular GSH.