Neurochemical and behavioural effects of chronic aldicarb administration in rats.

Changes in neurochemical parameters, behavioural and memory performances due to aldicarb (a carbamate pesticide) treatment was investigated after chronic oral administration in rats. Rats received water, or aldicarb 1 ppb (= 0.12 g/kg/day), aldicarb 10 ppb (= 1.2 g/kg/day) and aldicarb 100 ppb (= 12 g/kg/day) for 4 months. The locomotor and explorative activities were reduced, and aldicarb significantly decreased brain AChE activity while an increase was found in the passive avoidance and water-maze performance. In the striatum, aldicarb 10 ppb and 100 ppb, significantly reduced DOPA but not DOPAC concentrations, while the 10 ppb and 100 ppb doses significant increased DA levels. Aldicarb did not affect DA, DOPA and DOPAC levels in the accumbens. The neuropharmacologic effects of chronic dosing with aldicarb, AChE inhibition and dopaminergic modulation could be useful for treatment of memory deficits related to CNS disorders.