Effect of prolonged administration of insecticide (Cyhalothrin/Karate) on the blood and liver of rabbits.

A sublethal dose of Karate administered to rabbits produced a significant increase in the total erythrocyte count and packed cell volume after 15 days of administration, though no significant change was observed after 30 days. The transaminases (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, GOT; glutamate pyruvate transaminase, GPT) also increased after 15 days of treatment. The GPT activity increased 119% and 60% after 15 and 30 days, respectively. From amongst metabolites, glucose content increased 17% and 185%, while cholesterol decreased 40% and 66%, and bilirubin 84% and 61%, after 15 and 30 days, respectively. The hepatic AkP activity decreased 30%, while the GPT activity increased 44%. Other enzymes such as AcP, GOT and LDH remained unaffected. The concentration of other metabolites, except for FAA which increased 35%, remained unaffected. Histological changes were marked by atrophied hepatic cells and hypertrophied nuclei and nucleoli. A trend towards necrosis of hepatic cells was also observed. All these results indicate that Karate is moderately toxic to mammals.