In vitro disruption of ATP dependent active transport following treatment with aldrin and its epoxy analog dieldrin in a fresh water teleost, Labeo rohita.

Tissue homogenates of brain, gill, liver and kidney of Labeo rohita were subjected in vitro to the various concentrations as 5.00, 1.66, 0.55, 0.18 and 0.06 mu M of 2 organochlorine pesticides aldrin and dieldrin and the disruption of ATP dependent active transport (involving ATPase) was studied. The inhibition of total ATPase, Mg2+ and Na+, K+-dependent ATPase by both the pesticides was quite similar and there was an increased inhibition with increased concentration of the toxicant, however, at the lowest concentrations of both the pesticides stimulation was observed in all tissues except gill Mg2+ ATPase where insignificant inhibition was observed after dieldrin treatment. Inhibition of ATPase system was noted maximum in brain followed by gill, kidney and liver of the experimental fish, however in each tissue maximum inhibition of ATPase was noted after dieldrin treatment than that of th e aldrin treatment. Therefore, the observed action of these pesticides might be related to the ability of the compounds to alter the cellular membrane configuration by binding with the lipid portion of the membrane and this blocking the movement of substances by active transport.