Time course of brain cholinesterase inhibition and recovery following acute and subacute azinphosmethyl, parathion and carbaryl exposure in the goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Laboratory toxicity data contrasting mortality and brain cholinesterase inhibition in the goldfish (Carassius auratus) are presented. Brain cholinesterase (ChE) was greatly reduced after 96 h of exposure in vivo at sublethal concentrations of azinphosmethyl and parathion. The inhibition of the enzyme was dose dependent, and concentrations higher than 0.1 mg/L caused more than 90% inhibition. The effect of carbaryl was less pronounced, achieving an 86% inhibition at concentrations corresponding to the 96-h LC50. After in vivo exposure to sublethal concentrations of parathion and azinphosmethyl (0.1 mg/L) and carbaryl (3.0 mg/L), the activity of the goldfish brain ChE was greatly reduced. In the following 96 h of recovery, the enzyme inhibited with carbaryl was restored to 75% activity, while the enzyme inhibited with organophosphates (OPs) required more than 35 days for recovery. Goldfish were able to withstand high percentages of brain ChE inhibition without mortality, suggesting that another target may be responsible for the lethal effects. However, the enzyme is a good biomarker of acute and subacute exposure to OPs and carbamates.