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The effects in vivo and in vitro of benthiocarb, an organocarbamate, on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and its recovery in vitro in the brain of the freshwater fish Sarotherodon mossambicus have been studied. Findings revealed that the specific activity of AChE was inhibited both in vivo and in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. Of the different modulators tested, dexamethasone (0.72 mg), prednisolone (0.74 mg), testosterone (0.9 mg), and ADP (9.5 mg) were found to neutralize the inhibitory effect (IC50 = 0.30 μM) of benthiocarb on AChE.

Mice were exposed to hexachlorocyclohexane (BHC) in order to study the changes in the serum protein pattern and in the LDH isoenzymes of the liver. After 2 months of exposure the protein pattern showed a new band which persisted even after the development of a tumour. The LDH isoenzymes pattern showed a gradual decrease of the faster moving LDH-1 and LDH-2 bands which later disappeared completely when hepatic tumours formed. The significance of these results is discussed.

Male Swiss mice, 6–8 weeks old, were given a diet containing technical-grade hexachlorocyclohexane (BHC) at 500 ppm continuously for 4,6 and 8 months. After the completion of the scheduled exposure period, the males were sequentially mated with 2–3 untreated virgin females at weekly intervals for 8 weeks. The females were autopsied at mid-term pregnancy for evaluation of dominant-lethal mutation. The number of dead implants, including deciduomas and dead embryos, showed a significant increase. Similarly, the percentage fertility and live embryos per female showed a decline when compared with the control.