Dichlorvos induced toxicity and oxidative stress in the nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans

Oxidative stress and other effects induced by sublethal concentration of dichlorvos (0. 5, 50, 100, 150 and 200µM) on non-target, invertebrate, model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans exposure for 4h, resulted in increased levels of ROS (12.5 – 50%), alterations in antioxidant system, increased activity of superoxide dismutase (6 – 55.56%), glutathione-S-transferase ( 9 – 33%), decreased levels of catalase (34 – 50%), variations in glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase ( 26.58 – 57%) and glutathione was reduced with varying degree, a non –enzymatic anti-oxidant. Similarly the target enzyme of organophosphorous insecticide (OPI) acetylecholinesterase inhibtition observed (45 – 85%) and study was extended to understand the detoxification of dichlorvos by carboxylesterase as a measure of inhibition (17 – 58%). Further the physiological parameters examined as decrease in brood size and life span observed was dose dependent (15 – 46.5%) and the decreased life span as a measure of worm survival on 21st day. These results clearly demonstrated that the dichlorvos induces oxidative stress in the model organism and there by alterations in antioxidant enzyme system and effect on physiological parameters were observed on sub lethal exposure.