Prolonged elevation in blood pressure in the unrestrained rat exposed to chlorpyrifos

Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are likely to alter the regulation of blood pressure (BP) because (i) BP control centers in the brain stem utilize cholinergic synapses and (ii) the irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity by OP's causes cholinergic stimulation in the CNS. This study used radiotelemetric techniques to monitor systolic (S), diastolic (D), mean (M) BP, pulse pressure (systolic-diastolic), heart rate (HR), core temperature (T(c)), and motor activity in male Long-Evans rats treated with the OP pesticide chlorpyrifos (CHP) at doses of 0, 5, 10, and 25 mg/kg (p.o.) at 15:00 h 10 and 25 mg/kg CHP led to parallel elevations in S-BP, M-BP, and D-BP within 2 h after dosing. BP increased 15-20 mmHg above controls and increases persisted throughout the night and into the next day. HR decreased slightly in rats administered 25 but not 10 mg/kg CHP. T(c) was reduced by treatment with 25 mg/kg CHP and then increased above controls the next day. Motor activity was reduced by treatment with 25 but not 10 mg/kg CHP. Pulse pressure was elevated by 2-4 mmHg for 40 h after exposure to 10 and 25 mg/kg CHP. The increase in BP without an increase in HR suggests that CHP increases total peripheral resistance and may alter the baroreflex control of BP. Cholinergic stimulation of the CNS may explain the initial effects of CHP on BP; however, the persistent elevation suggests an involvement of neurohumoral pressor pathways.