Metabolomic analysis of rat plasma following chronic low-dose exposure to dichlorvos

This study aims to assess the metabolomic profile and related histopathological outcomes of rat plasma after chronic low-dose exposure to dichlorvos (DDVP). A total of 120 male Wistar rats were treated with 0, 2.4, 7.2, and 21.6 mg/kg of body weight/day DDVP continuously for 24 weeks by drinking water. Rat plasma samples were collected at different time-points to measure the metabolomic profiles by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Liver tissue analysis was performed to correlate histopathological outcome status to plasma metabolomics. Significant changes in some of the metabolites were found in all the treated groups compared with the control group. LysoPC (15:0/0:0), LysoPC (16:0/0:0), LysoPC (17:0/0:0), LysoPC (0:0/18:0), sphingosine, sphinganine, C16 sphinganine, C17 sphinganine, and arachidonic acid were decreased in the treated groups. LysoPE (16:0/0:0) was increased after dosing with DDVP. Histopathological test outcomes coincided with the plasma metabolomic-profile analysis results obtained by UPLC-MS. The livers were damaged following chronic exposure to DDVP. Abnormal changes in some lipids in the plasma, such as LysoPC (0:0/18:0), were closely related to liver dysfunction. Therefore, metabolomic analysis provides the unique advantages of unveiling the mechanisms of DDVP.