Kentucky State University
Effect of Pesticides and Diets Containing Varying Levels of Minerals on Plasma Calcium, Zinc, and Copper Concentrations in Rats
Institution
Kentucky State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Myna Panemangalore
Abstract
The interaction between minerals calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) and a mixture of pesticides was determined on plasma mineral concentrations in rats. Male, Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 175-200 g, 6/grp were fed AIN 93M or the same modified to contain 500 mg Ca (Low Ca), 7 mg Zn (Low Zn), 2 mg Cu (Low Cu), 60 mg Zn (High Zn), or 12 mg Cu (High Cu) in combination: Control (CON), LCa+LZn, LCa+LZn+LCu or HZn+HCu with or without pesticides. A mixture of Endosulfan, Thiram, and Acephate at 25% of LD50 was added to the diet of pesticide exposed groups. The rats were fed for 4 weeks. Plasma Ca concentrations (mg/L) declined by about 17% in groups fed low Ca diets and by a similar amount in the HZn+HCu group; exposure to pesticides in the diet decreased plasma Ca in the CON and LCa+LZn groups by 14%, but not in the LCa+LZn+LCu and HZn+HCu groups (P≤0.05). Plasma Zn declined by more than 50% in the LCa+LZn, LCa+LZn+LCu and HZn+HCu diet groups, but pesticide exposure did not further modify plasma Zn (P≤0.05). Plasma Cu decreased by 82% in the LCa+LZn+LCu group and was similar to the control in all other groups; there was a 2.5 fold increase in plasma Cu in the pesticide exposed LCa+LZn+LCu group(P≤0.05). This suggests interaction between pesticides, Ca, Zn, and Cu at the level of absorption.
Effect of Pesticides and Diets Containing Varying Levels of Minerals on Plasma Calcium, Zinc, and Copper Concentrations in Rats
The interaction between minerals calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) and a mixture of pesticides was determined on plasma mineral concentrations in rats. Male, Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 175-200 g, 6/grp were fed AIN 93M or the same modified to contain 500 mg Ca (Low Ca), 7 mg Zn (Low Zn), 2 mg Cu (Low Cu), 60 mg Zn (High Zn), or 12 mg Cu (High Cu) in combination: Control (CON), LCa+LZn, LCa+LZn+LCu or HZn+HCu with or without pesticides. A mixture of Endosulfan, Thiram, and Acephate at 25% of LD50 was added to the diet of pesticide exposed groups. The rats were fed for 4 weeks. Plasma Ca concentrations (mg/L) declined by about 17% in groups fed low Ca diets and by a similar amount in the HZn+HCu group; exposure to pesticides in the diet decreased plasma Ca in the CON and LCa+LZn groups by 14%, but not in the LCa+LZn+LCu and HZn+HCu groups (P≤0.05). Plasma Zn declined by more than 50% in the LCa+LZn, LCa+LZn+LCu and HZn+HCu diet groups, but pesticide exposure did not further modify plasma Zn (P≤0.05). Plasma Cu decreased by 82% in the LCa+LZn+LCu group and was similar to the control in all other groups; there was a 2.5 fold increase in plasma Cu in the pesticide exposed LCa+LZn+LCu group(P≤0.05). This suggests interaction between pesticides, Ca, Zn, and Cu at the level of absorption.