1H NMR-based metabonomic analysis of the serum and urine of rats following subchronic exposure to dichlorvos, deltamethrin, or a combination of these two pesticides.

Abstract Metabonomic analysis, clinical chemical analysis and histopathology were used to investigate the toxic effects of subchronic exposure to dichlorvos, deltamethrin, and a combination of these two pesticides, in rats. Weight loss, hind limb weakness and histopathological changes in kidney tissue were only observed in rats exposed to high doses of deltamethrin, or a combination of deltamethrin and dichlorvos. Urinary metabonomic analysis indicated that exposure to a mixture of dichlorvos and deltamethrin was followed by increases in urinary lactate, dimethylamine, N-glycoprotein (NAC) and glycine similar to those observed in rats treated with either dichlorvos or deltamethrin alone. Serum metabonomic analysis suggests that dichlorvos induced an increase in lactate and alanine and a decrease in dimethylglycine (DMG), NAC and very low- and low-density lipoprotein (VLDL/LDL). High levels of lactate and low levels of NAC and VLDL/LDL were observed in the deltamethrin treatment group. Treating rats with a mixture of dichlorvos and deltamethrin caused an increase in serum lactate, trimethylamine- N -oxide (TMAO), choline and alanine, with the highest levels of these metabolites observed in those that received the highest dose. Exposure to a mixture of dichlorvos and deltamethrin also resulted in a decrease in serum acetone, DMG, NAC, and VLDL/LDL. Changes in serum TMAO, alanine, choline and acetone in this treatment group were higher than in rats treated with either dichlorvos or deltamethrin. These results suggest that exposing rats to subchronic doses of dichlorvos, deltamethrin, or a combination of these pesticides, disrupted the energy metabolism of the liver and reduced kidney function.