Analysis of Parotid and Pancreatic Glands in a Murine Model of Intoxicaton with Parathion-methyl and Efficacy of its Treatment

Objective: To investigate the effect of parathion-methyl (PM) on parotid and pancreatic glands in rats. Methods: Seventy-five male Wistar rats were divided into five equal groups. The groups were control (Group I), Group II (received atropine and pralidoxime (2-PAM) for 24 hours, but no PM); Group ID, (oral PM but no atropine and 2-PAM); Group IV, (PM and atropine for 24 hours and 2-PAM); Group V, (PM and atropine for 96 hours and 2-PAM). After the administration of the chemicals, blood samples were drawn to test for amylase, lipase, acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE), and butirylcholinesterase (BChE) while pancreatic and parotid glands of each rat were removed for light microscopic examination. Results: Blood levels of amylase were found significantly elevated in groups II (p = 0.01), III (p = 0.0001), IV (p = 0.005), and V (p = 0.0001), while lipase were supranormal in groups III (p = 0.0001), IV (p = 0.05), and V (p = 0.0001). The blood levels of AChE decreased in groups HI (p = 0.0001) and IV (p = 0.002) and BChE decreased in II (p = 0.059), III (p = 0.0001), IV (p = 0.0001), V (p = 0.0001). Hyper-chromasia, irregularity in nuclei and binuclear cells were observed in parotid gland. Frequencies of other pathological changes were similar in pancreatic and parotid glands. Conclusion: PM may cause elevation in amylase and lipase, decrease in cholinesterases. Parotitis and pancreatitis were not evident while new various histologic changes in parotid gland were documented.