The Inhaled Effects of Fenitrothion Powder on Blood Cholinesterase in Rats

Effects of fenitrothion (Sumithion) powder on red cell acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and plasma cholinesterase (PChE) were studied in vitro and in vivo. Experiments in vitro revealed that fenitrothion has almost the same potency to inhibit AChE (in pre-washed red cell membrane) and PChE. Rats (Wistar, male) were exposed to fenitrothion powder for 4 hours using a new apparatus which can generate powder constantly over a long period. In this experiment, however, no apparent suppression of AChE was found while PChE was markedly inhibited. This inhibition persisted for 3 days after the exposure. This discrepancy was interpreted to be due to the inevitable procedure in preparing red cell specimens, i.e., washing of the red cells. After acute exposure in vivo, fenitrothion appears to be easily removed from the red cells by washing. Thus, PChE, rather than AChE, seems to be a good indicator of an acute exposure to fenitrothion powder in vivo.