Sub-chronic effect of neem based pesticide (Vepacide) on acetylcholinesterase and ATPases in rat

Acetylcholinesterases (AChE), Na+-K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+-ATPases were monitored in rat brain when treated orally with 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg of Vepacide, an active ingredient from neem seed oil, daily for 90 days. Brain AChE, Na+-K + and Ca2+-ATPases were inhibited whereas Mg2+-ATPase levels were enhanced in both the sexes after 45 and 90 days of treatment. The relative sensitivi ties of these ATPases to Vepacide indicated that Ca2+-ATPase being more sen sitive than Na+-K+-ATPase in both the sexes. The magnitude of Ca2+-ATPase i nhibited by this compound was higher than that of brain AChE. It appears to be sexual dimorphism in the alterations of brain AChE, Na+-K+ and Mg2+-ATP ases by Vepacide with females being significant when compared with males. A fter 28 days of post treatment the alterations observed were approached to those of controls both in male and female rats showing reversal of the toxi city.