Starch-gel electrophoresis of liver esterases selectively inhibited by pesticides.

CONCLUSION: The studies presented here indicate that selective inhibition of liver esterases or bands by pesticides can be evaluated rapidly by starch-gel electrophoresis. The liver esterase inhibition - starch-gel electrophoretic procedure described may be useful in screening pesticides with selective or specific toxicity to a particular species. A similar method has already been used to demonstrate the relation of esterase inhibition with acute organophosphorus poisoning in pheasants (14). The ability of Dyrene heated in methanol to strongly inhibit liver esterases is noteworthy and will be reported elsewhere.