Abstract
Summary
A quantitative method for measuring the hydrolytic detoxification of malathion and its toxic metabolite, malaoxon, was developed. Application of the method to normal tissues revealed that the liver of several species contains the highest concentration of the enzyme but serum, kidney and lung also exhibited activity in some species. EPN was found to inhibit the enzyme system which detoxifies malathion in vitro and in vivo. This interference with the detoxification of malathion by EPN provides an explanation for the potentiation of toxicity which occurs when the two compounds are administered simultaneously and suggests the possibility that EPN may inhibit the detoxification of other esters which utilize the same detoxification pathway.
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