FETOTOXIC RESPONSE OF TECHNICAL QUINALPHOS IN RATS

Technical Quinalphos was administered po to pregnant rats through day 6-20 of gestation at doses of 0.5 or 1.5 mg/kg body weight. Quinalphos produced enzymatic changes in liver and serum of dams associated with mild pathomorphological changes in liver and brain. Fetotoxic effects were not observed at the tested dose levels as determined by total nu mber of implantations, percentage resorption, live fetuses, crown rump length and fetal weight. A few insignificant skeletal deformities wer e noticed. A significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity i n fetal brain and placenta indicated possible transmigration of quinal phos from dams to fetuses.