Chlorpyrifos induced cardiotoxicity in rats and the protective role of quercetin and catechin

Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphorous insecticide, is widely used in agricultural control and it caused toxic effects on nontarget organisms especially mammalian. In the present study, catechin (20 mg/kg day), quercetin (20 mg/kg day), chlorpyrifos (5.4 mg/kg day), catechin (20 mg/kg day)+chlorpyrifos (5.4 mg/kg day), quercetin (20 mg/kg day)+chlorpyrifos (5.4 mg/kg day) were given to male rats through gavage. Histopathological changes were investigated using light microscope, antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehite, which is the product of lipit peroxidation, level were determined in the rats 4 weeks after the administration compared to control group. No significant differences were observed between control, catechin and quercetin groups. At the end of the 4th week statistical significantly changes in antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehite level were observed in chlorpyrifos treated group compared to control group. SOD and CAT activities and MDA level were significantly higher than the control group, GPx and GST activities were significantly lower than the control group. In catechin+chlorpyrifos treated group and quercetin+chlorpyrifos treated group we observed the protective effects of catechin and quercetin on examining parameters. While disorganization and degeneration in myocardial fibers, cytoplasmic vacuolization in cardiac muscle cells, edema in connective tissue, degenerative changes in cardiac muscle cells were detected in heart tissue in chlorpyrifos treated group, less histopathological changes were observed in catechin+chlorpyrifos treated group and quercetin+chlorpyrifos treated group 4 week after the administration. As a result, catechin and quercetin significantly reduce chlorpyrifos induced cardiotoxicity in rats, but not protect completely.