EFFECTS OF ORGANOPHOSPHORUS INSECTICIDES ON PROTEIN AND NUCLEIC-ACIDSCONTENTS OF FAT-BODY AND SILKGLAND OF THE SILKWORM, BOMBYX-MORI (LEPIDOPTERA, BOMBYCIDAE)

The effect of organophosphorus insecticides fenitrothion and ethion on protein, ribose nucleic acid (RNA), deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) co ntents and RNA/DNA ratio of the fat body and silk-gland of the 5th ins tar larvae of silkworm, Bombyx mori before spinning were determined. I t was observed that these organophosphorus insecticides with a lethal and sublethal doses greatly reduced the protein, RNA, DNA contents and RNA/DNA ratio of the fat body and silk-gland in comparison to those o f the control worms. It is presumed, on the basis of these results. th at the fenitrothion and ethion causes major changes in protein and nuc leic acid contents of the silkworms.