Two opposite dose-dependent effects of diazinon on the motor activity of the rat ileum

Abstract Acute poisoning with OPs may lead to a range of neurological effects, which cannot be explained by AChE inhibition alone. Several OPs interact directly with cholinergic receptors in mammals, but such data does not exist for invertebrates. The aim of current study was to investigate the direct and indirect effects of diazinon on the contractions of rat ileum and to compare those effects on the nervemuscle preparation of the Ascaris suum. In the presence of increasing concentrations of diazinon (3, 10 and 30 nM), EFS-induced ileal contractions were increased significantly. In the same preparation, diazinon 3 nM, significantly increased contractions induced by EFS, but did not affect the contractions caused by 5MFI. Contrarily, 1 μM of diazinon significantly and reversibly inhibited the EFS-induced ileal contractions. Diazinon exhibited competitive and non-competitive inhibitions of 5MFI induced contractions. The control EC 50 of 5MFI was 2.48 μM with R max  = 1.88 g. In the presence of diazinon, EC 50 was 12.45 μM, while R max was reduced to 0.43 g. After washing, the EC 50 and R max values were again closer to the control level (3.80 μM and 1.04 g). Diazinon 1 μM did not inhibit Ascaris suum contractions caused by ACh, but it increased the R max . Diazinon in our study exhibits two opposite effects on the motor activity of the ileum. In low nanomolar concentrations the dominat is its effect on AChE and the stimulation of contractions. Furthermore, in concentrations that approach micromolar values diazinon has a direct inhibitory effect on muscarinic receptors. The direct inhibitory effect of diazinon on A. suum contractions was not found.