HealthHealth1949-4998Scientific Research Publishing10.4236/health.2013.53A080Health-29604ArticlesMedicine&Healthcare Developmental effects of Malathion exposure on locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior in Wistar rat acômeKouadio N’Go1*Fatima-ZahraAzzaoui1AhmedOmar Touhami Ahami1PorloRigobert Soro1MohamedNajimi2FatihaChigr2Unit of Clinic and Cognitive Neuroscience, Laboratory of Biology and Health, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, IBN TOFAILUniversity , Kénitra, MoroccoLaboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Béni Mellal, Morocco* E-mail:ngopac@hotmail. fr(AKN);29032013050360361131 December 20128 February 2013 22 February 2013© Copyright 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. 2014This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Developmental exposure to organophosphate insecticide is well known to induce neurobeha-vioral impairments, at late period. The present study aims to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to Malathion, from in utero to young adult stage, on locomotor skills and anxiety like- behavior among wistar rat. Four groups of female rats, bred with one non-pesticide exposed male, are used. On gestational day 6, three groups receive daily, by intragastric gavage, 3 different doses of Malathion dissolved in corn oil (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight). The control group receives the corn oil only. On postnatal day 21, weaned offsprings are submitted to the similar treatment until adult age. Spontaneous locomotor activity is evaluated using the Open-Field test (OF) and anxiety-like behavior is measured using both Open-Field (OF) test and Elevate Plus-Maze (EPM). Malathion at 300 mg/kg is toxic to pregnant dams, and pups are stillborns. In males, Malathionlevelat 100 and 200 mg/kg induced significant impairment of spontaneous locomotor activities, which is reflected by high decrease of number of squares crossed in OF. In contrast, no discernible changes are observed within females Malathion-treated-group. However, females exposed to both malathion levels develop further anxiety-like response, expressed by significant reductions of exploratory activities in OF and time spent in open arm of EPM. Neurochemistry assay shows that cerebellum and neocortex acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity inhibition are significantly increased with neurobehavioral deficits in males, relative to females. Overall, neurobehavioral outcomes of current study reveal that developmental exposure to Malathion induces sex-selective effects with greater changes in females.

AChE Activity; Developmental Neurotoxicity; Malathion; Neurobehavior; Organophosphate Insecticides1. INTRODUCTION

Organophosphate pesticides (OP) are widely used in agriculture pest control, in order to improve quality of human food. However, their general persistence in crops products and in environment is considered as hazardous for the public health [1,2]. The acute effects of people intoxication especially in suicides attempts, occupational accident case and food contamination are well studied in epidemiology [3]. The Malathion insecticide is one of the most used OP in United States and throughout the world. As evoked by Maroni et al.; Malathion is used inagriculture, veterinary practice and as ectoparasiticide applied against human body lice [4]. From chemical name [S-1, 2(bis-ethoxycarbonyl) ethylO, O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate]; Malathion inducesexcitotocixity effect through its bioactive form, malaoxon [5]. With respect to neurotoxicity mechanism, Malathion compounds exert commonly their primary effect by phosphorylating the serine residue at the active site of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This leads to an inhibition of this enzyme in neural tissues, and so resulting overstimulation of cholinergic synapse in central and peripheral nervous system [6,7]. Although Malathion is considered as an OP relatively low acute toxicity, it could cause as others high toxic OPs, a great risk for human and environmental health. In California, Malathion was the third most frequently reported pesticide and caused five times more occupational illness than did the average pesticide [8]. In addition, Grether et al. examined occurrence of defects and low birth weight using newborn hospital discharge data and vital records in the San Francisco Bay area after aerial Malathion spraying [9]. Many biochemical and physiological effects of OP insecticide have been documented in man and animal [10]. It has been reported that subtoxic dose (27 mg/kg, 1/50 of the LD50 for an oral dose) of Malathion induced testicular toxicity by changes in sperm morphology, sperm mobility, testosterone level and histopathological of the testes, in sexually mature male rats [11]. Other study revealed that Malathion in subchronic exposure affects rat hepatic gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis as well as inducing hyperglycemia [12]. Furthermore, the main target of OP insecticides remains the nervous system [13]. The acute OPs poisoning may lead to chronic sequelae including anxiety and depression [14], while long-term exposure may produce cognitive and neuropsychiatry disorders [15]. Brain effects of OPs, such as cognitive and neurobehavioral deficits and neurology diseases are occurred in agricultural workers-communities [15,16]. It has been suggested that long-term exposure to low-level of OP can interfere with normal development of central nervous system [17]. In fact, children are considered to be more vulnerable due to the significant anatomical and maturational changes occurring in the brain during developmental periods [18]. In animal model, previous study has shown that Malathion administered chronically for 28 days (25 - 150 mg/ kg) induced depression-like behavior in Forced Swimming Test [19]. Acker et al. [20] have also reported a decrease of motor coordination and muscular strength in rat pups exposed orally to Malathion, from post natal days (PND) 12 to 14. However, most developmental effects of OP studies are focused on high toxicity grade compounds such as Chlorpyrifos (CPF), Parathion (PTH) and Diazinon (DZN) [21,22]. Although the acute and subchronic physical effects of Malathion exposure are well documented [23,24], there are a limited number of studies describing the neurobehavioral deficits caused by this OP.

The current study aims to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to subtoxique doses of Malathion, from in utero to young adult stage, on locomotor skills and anxiety like-behavior and on AChE activity in cerebellum and neocortex area in Wistar rats.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS2.1. Chemical

Malathion was obtained from commercial grade: Malyphos50 (active ingredients 500 g by liter). The Malathion concentration (50% purity) in commercial grade was diluted in corn oil. Acetylthiocholine iodide, 5, 5- dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and others all chemicals were purchased from Sigma (USA).

2.2. Animals and Treatment

Twelve Wistar female rats, 4 months of age were obtained from a local breeding colony of Faculty of Sciences, Kenitra-Morocco. Rates were kept under standard condition, 12 h light/12 dark cycle, 20˚C ± 2˚C and 50% - 70% humidity). They had access to commercial diet (ALF SAHEL-Casablanca, Morocco) and tap water ad libitum. After 2 weeks of acclimation, virgin rates and one-non-pesticide exposed male were bred in propylene cage covered by stainless steel mesh (70 × 40 × 65 cm). On gestational days six (GD 6), females were randomly divided in four groups of treatment. Then, three groups received by intragastric gavage incremental doses of Malathion insecticide dissolved in corn oil; 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg of body weight per day (Mal 100, Mal 200, Mal 300), and one control group (VEH) was given corn oil daily. Gestating females were treated from GD6 though post-partum day 21, rat pups were so exposed to Malathion via their mothers. On PND 21, weaned offsprings of each experimental group were submitted to similar dose regimens of preliminary protocol, and duration of treatment was extended to young adult stage. Experimental procedures are also examined and approved by the internal ethical committee for animal welfare.

2.3. Physical Parameter Measurements

Beginning on PND1, physical signs of toxicity and bodyweight were daily recorded during treatment.

2.4. Behavioral Assessment2.4.1. Open-Field Test (OF)

To assess possible effects of Malathion on spontaneous locomotor activity and the ability to response to a novel environment rats were evaluated in open-field test during 10 min. Apparatus consisted to top open wooden bow (100 × 100 × 40) covered by a white consistent plastic. The floor of the arena were divided into 25 squares unit by black lines and lit in the center with halogen lamps of 60 W installed in the ceiling [25,26]. The frequencies of line crossing with the four paws (locomotion) and number of rearing in exploratory activity (anxiety level), were recorded by video camera positioned above the OF.

2.4.2. Elevated Plus-Maze (EPM)

To measure the degree of anxiety-related behavior, we use the elevated plus-maze. The apparatus is made of wood and consisted to two enclosed arm (29 × 5 × 15) and two open arms (29 × 2.5 × 15), placed at a right angle crossing in a common central platform (5 × 5). The central platform is illuminated with halogen lamps of 60 W offer rat an aversive condition spatial. Each animal is placed onto platform facing the open arm and the following behaviors are recorded during 5 min. The time spent in each arm and the numbers of entries in open and close arm are scored from video sequence. The level anxiety of rat is assessed by the time spent on the open arm divided by total time, and the number of open-arm entries divided by total number of arm entries [27].

2.5. AChE Activity Assay

Rats are killed by decapitation 24 h after behavioral tests. Samples of brain correspondent to cerebellum and neocortex areas are removed and homogenized in buffer Tris/HCl (50 mmol·L−1, pH 7.3) and Sucrose (0.32 mol·L−1). The homogenate is centrifuged at 1000 ×g for 15 min at 4˚C. AChE activity is assayed according to Elman method [28], using acetylthiocholine iodide as a substrate. Reaction mixture contained 100 µL of supernatant, 4 µL of substrate (75 mM), 150 µL of Dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid (DTNB Elman’s reagent, 100 Mm) and 3. 0 ml of phosphate buffer (pH 8.0). The rate of Acetylthiocholine iodide hydrolysis is measured at 412 nm in spectrophotometer for 10 min. Brain AChE is expresses in percent of inhibition from control group [29].

2.6. Statistical Analysis

All data are expressed as means ± S.E.M (Standard Error of Mean). Repeat measured and one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) are used to analyze difference on body weight and behavioral scores respectively between groups. Post hoc comparisons are made using Tukey’s HDS test, when appropriate. Two-way ANOVA (sex × treatment) interaction is used to explain behavioral performances. Statistical significant is assumed at p ˂ 0.05.

3. RESULTS3.1. General Physical Observations

Malathion exposure at dosage 300 mg/kg (b.w) induced toxicity to pregnant dams; all offspring are stillborns during parturition. In others’ treated groups, no sign of toxicity such as body tremor, salivation, weakness and convulsion are observed. Repeated measure ANOVA shows a significant difference in body weight, with inmale rats (p = 0.02). Turkey post-hoc analysis revealed that body weight loss is significantly important (p ˂ 0.001) in both treated-groups; “Mal 100” and “Mal 200”compared to VEH. But no difference is observed between them. The same observation has been found in female group (data not shown).

3.2. Open-Field Behavior

Malathion altered significantly spontaneous locomotion activity, in both sexes (Figure 1(a)). In males, oneway ANOVA shows significant reduction in number of square crossed between treated groups [F (5,38) = 33.95; p ˂ 0.001]. Tukey’s post-hoc reveals Malathion induced high spontaneous locomotor function changes in Mal 200 group (p ˂ 0.001) and in Mal 100 group (P = 0.002), compared to VEH. In females, no difference in mean of number of square crossed is observed between both Malathion treated-group; Mal 100 and Mal 20. But, turkey post-hoc shows a high significant alteration of locomotor activity (p ˂ 0.001), when compared to VEH females. Indeed, the sex × treatment analysis revealed that locomotor activity is significantly decreased in females Malathion-treated (p = 0.008), relative to Males. As depicted in Figure 1(b) and shown by Turkey posthoc test, in males, Malathion at both doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) produce significant changes in number of rearing [F (5,38) = 21.41, p ˂ 0.001]. In females, Mal 200 and Mal 100 group performed slowly in number of rearing (p = 0.001), relative to VEH female. However, sex × treatment interaction showed that females presented significant alteration of anxiety level (reduction exploratory activity), than males [F (5,38) = 5.54; p = 0.01].

3.3. Anxiety-Like Behaviors Assessment

The rats’ behavior in EPM shows that Malathion exposure at both doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) induces anxiety-like response (Figure 2). In males, one way ANOVA indicates a significant difference in percentage of times spent in open arm [F (5,38) = 61.05; p ˂ 0.001]. Turkey’s post hoc analysis confirms a decrease of open arm time in Mal 200 (p ˂ 0.001) and Mal 100 (p = 0.001), compared to VEH. In females, one-way ANOVA showed that any doses of Malathion induce anxiety-like behavior (p ˂ 0.001). Post-hoc analysis revealed high reduction of time spent in open arm of EPM in Malathion-treated; Mal 200 group (p ˂ 0.001) and Mal 100 group (p = 0.03), relative to VEH females (Figure 2(a)). Moreover, the frequency of entries into open arm is significantly altered in both sexes treated with Malathion (p ˂ 0.001), when compared to VEH. But Turkey post-hoc test showed that, in both sexes, Mal 200 group exhibits more anxiety likebehavior than Mal 100 group rats (Figure 2(b)).

The last parameter to measure anxiety level is number of entries into enclosed arm of EPM. In males, one-way ANOVA shows the total number of entries into enclosed arm is elevated in Malathion-treated (p = 0.013), compared to VEH group. But, a simple difference in number of entries into enclosed arm is observed between Mal 100 and Mal 200 group (p ˂ 0.01). In females, Malathion anxiogenic effect is more expressed in treated groups

though greater number of entries into enclosed arm than non-exposed VEH (p ˂ 0.001) (Figure 3). Overall, sex × treatment reveals that anxiety level alteration is significantly pronounced in females (p ˂ 0.001).

3.4. AChE Activity Assays

In Males group, developmental exposure at dose 100 and 200 mg/kg increased significantly cortex AChE activity inhibition; +20% (p ˂ 0.001) and +36% (p ˂ 0.0001), respectively. Turkey post hoc analysis detects that there is statistically also high difference between Mal 100 and Mal 200 groups (p ˂ 0.001). In contrast, within females group, no significant variation of AChE inhibition is observed (Figure 4).

We investigate also AChE activity in cerebellum area. One-way ANOVA analysis shows that in males, the pattern of AChE activity inhibition to both dose 100 and

200 mg/kg is approximately similar, but significant difference is observed compared to control (p ˂ 0.001). In females groups, studied levels of Malathion exposure don’t induce any significant change in AChE inhibition (p > 0.05) (Figure 5).

4. DISCUSSION

The current study reported that different Malathion concentrations don’t have any physical signs as weakness, tremor, and convulsion. But, Malathion exposure has significantly affected body weight of both sexes. This result is consistent with previous past study showing that subchronic exposure to Chlorpyrifos (CPF), a high toxic OP, reduced significantly body weight [30]. It could be due to cholinergic overstimulation that causes increase of gastric motility and reduction in absorption [31]. However, no weight loss was observed in rat pups (PND 12 - 14), when they were exposed orally for four consecutive days to similar doses of Malathion as our [20]. These observations suggest that Malathion effects are not only related to dose-response and toxicity grade, but duration and period of exposition can be major factor to explain this deficit.

Furthermore, Current study demonstrates that developmental exposure to Malathion decreases significantly locomotor activity of both sexes, at young adult stage. The dose of 100 mg/kg decreases the number of square crossed in OF. Malathion at 200 mg/kg affects further male rats, but no discernible motor behavioral changes in females treated. This effect is accompanied by great changes in exploratory activities, as evidence by significant reduction of number of rearing in the OF. In fact, the reduction of number of square crossed and number of rearing are positively correlated to deficits in arousal, an increase in emotional response or motor activity impairments [32]. Previous study reported that also rats prenatally exposed to CPF present significant alteration of spontaneous locomotion activity, that are followed by a general hypoactivity in both sexes when exposition is done at middle of gestational phase [33]. However, recent study point out rat pups (PND 12 - 14) exposed to Malathion for 4 days presented no changes of spontaneous locomotor and exploratory activities in OF test [20]. This suggests that developmental exposure to Malathion lead to delayed abnormal locomotor behavior by disrupt developmental processes in the brain. In fact, during gestational phase (GD 10 - 16) in rats, motor area corresponding to fetus’s posterior brain in development: brainstem, midbrain, cerebellum, spinal cords, are firstly distinguished, followed by anterior structure like neocortex and hippocampus [34]. In this critical period, brain developmental program is highly sensitive to OP insecticide with a later neurology and neurobehavioral alteration [35,36].

Beside, in Malathion treated-groups, the rate of AChE activity inhibition in neocortex is highly elevated in males, but no significant changes in females. The same variation is observed in cerebellum cortex. Similar to ours outcomes, others studies found that subtoxic dose of Malathion induced AChE inhibition more than 20% [5, 37]. In others words, developmental exposure to OPs including Malathion lead to persistence deficiencies in cholinergic synaptic at adulthood, as evidenced Slotkin et al. [21]. During brain development, acetylcholine and cholinergic projection play major roles in proliferation, migration and synaptogenesis and in the development of normal neural cytoarchitecture [38]. So, cholinergic transmission disrupted subsequently to AChE inhibition, might be a factor of developmental neurotoxicity, including motor development or motor coordination deficits [19]. Our study revealed also developmental exposure to Malathion induced sex-selective alteration in spontaneous locomotor and anxiety level in OF test. Female scored poorly than males. But, neurobehaviour deficits are not correlated to AChE activity inhibition. This paradox could probably due to other neurochemistry mechanism in locomotor behavior alteration. As state in past study, OPs exposure at subtoxic dose of AChE inhibition can alter the dopaminergic system, a regulator of locomotion activities [39,40].

We used E. P. M to confirm deficits in emotional responsiveness evidenced in OF test. Originally, this test has been an ethologically valid animal’s model of human anxiety [41]. In our knowledge, no study has investigated on anxiety effect of developmental exposure to Malathion. Neurobehavioral data of current study showed an anxiogenic-like response in animals developmentally exposed to Malathion. A significant reduction of time spent and number of entries into open arm of EPM are observed in treated-groups. Some epidemiological and toxicological studies are evidenced relationship between OP compounds and increase in prevalence of the human brain development alteration; clinical symptoms include mental delay, anxiety, and neurobehavioral abnormalities in young children living in agricultural communities [16, 42]. The current animal model investigation demonstrates that critical period of brain development (i.e. from in utero to adolescence) remains sensitive to anxiogenic effects of Malathion. In contrast, intraperitoneal subacute exposure to malathion dosage ranging from 25 to 150 mg/kg, in adult rats, did shown neither alteration of anxiety level after assessment in EPM [43]. As state in previous study, in rats, perinatal period correspondent to last days of gestation and post-natal life (PND 1-4) [44], in later (PND 11-14) [45] was revealed as sensitive period in which OP can disrupt anxiety level. Our observations confirm the paradigm that, despite low toxic property, Malathion intoxication is more injurious to embryonic brain and behavior sequel caused early, can be observed in the adult. In addition, detoxification abilities were deficiencies because of liver or kidney OPs enzymes immaturities in fetus and rat pups, relative to adults [46].

To elucidate the anxiogenic-like behavior effects, it is most important to know the mechanisms triggered by Malathion. As mentioned above, developmental exposure to Malathion leads to significant irreversible AChE inhibition, later at young adult stage. That is followed by a prolonged overstimulation of nicotinic cholinergic receptor. Alteration at the cholinergic synaptic transmission supports strongly the hypothesis of anxiogenic effect induced by Malathion. Indeed, past studies have demonstrated that cholinergic system plays a modulatory role in the control of anxiety level [47,48]. Current revealed that all dose regimens of Malathion induced anxiogenic effects in both sexes, but females were significantly affected. Moreover, as mentioned above, a weak relationship links Malathion exposure and AChE activeties disruption in females. It is still unclear to explain this paradox. That can be possible due to interaction between Malathion and estrogenic activity disruption in brain sexual differentiation. However, the common effects of organophosphate insecticides on serotoninergic system can be a main explanation of high level of anxiety expressed in females [49].

In conclusion, current study demonstrated that chronic exposure of rats to subtoxic doses of Malathion during critical phase of brain development induced later neurobehaviour impairments. Although, effects of Malathion are significantly pronounced in females, exact neurochemistry mechanisms remain unclear. Moreover, immunohistological study in cerebellum and cerebral cortex of rats exposed can further contributed to elucidate these disorders.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was supported byGDRI Neuro and N£uromed consortium. mailto: ahami_40@yahoo. fr.

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