Foetal and maternal rat brain acetylcholinesterase: isoenzymes changes following insecticidal carbamate derivatives poisoning.

Pregnant rats (18th day) were orally given insecticidal carbamates with anticholinesterasic properties: 50 mg/kg carbaryl, 0.1 mg/kg aldicarb, 2.5. mg/kg carbofuran and 20 mg/kg pirimicarb. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) isoenzymes from the brain of mothers and their foetuses were separated by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. The four carbamate derivatives caused a significant lowering of the percentage of the least mobile isoenzyme (isoenzyme 1) in mother. Aldicarb, carbaryl and pirimicarb also caused a significant decrease in the percentage of the first foetal isoenzyme. The second foetal isoenzyme underwent a decrease after treatment with aldicarb or carbofuran.