Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

A Doxorubicin-induced Cardiomyopathy Model in Adult Zebrafish
08:09

A Doxorubicin-induced Cardiomyopathy Model in Adult Zebrafish

Published on: June 7, 2018

Diazinon treatment effects on heart and skeletal muscle enzyme activities

J G Wilkinson, W Rajendra, P C Oloffs

    Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part. B, Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes
    |April 1, 1986
    PubMed

    Insights

    Chronic low-level diazinon exposure in rats had minimal impact on key heart and skeletal muscle enzymes. This study investigated the effects of diazinon on glycolytic and oxidative enzyme activity.

    Area of Science:

    • Toxicology
    • Biochemistry
    • Muscle Physiology

    Background:

    • Organophosphate pesticides like diazinon are widely used.
    • Understanding their impact on muscle function is crucial for public health.
    • Previous research indicates potential neurotoxic effects, but muscle enzyme impacts are less understood.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the chronic effects of low-level diazinon exposure on specific enzyme activities in rat cardiac and skeletal muscle.
    • To determine if diazinon affects key enzymes involved in glycolysis and oxidative metabolism.

    Main Methods:

    • Adult male Wistar rats were administered a low dose of diazinon twice weekly for 28 weeks.
    • Body weight changes were monitored.
    • Activities of four marker enzymes: Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Phosphofructo kinase (PFK), and Hexokinase (HK) were measured in heart and skeletal muscle tissues.

    Main Results:

    • Diazinon-treated rats exhibited significantly reduced weight gain compared to controls.
    • No significant effects of diazinon were observed on SDH, LDH, and PFK activities in heart, soleus, gastrocnemius, and plantaris muscles.
    • Hexokinase (HK) activity was notably increased in sham-control soleus and plantaris muscles but was inhibited by diazinon in the plantaris muscle after 28 weeks.

    Conclusions:

    • Chronic exposure to low levels of diazinon demonstrates a limited impact on the overall glycolytic and oxidative capacity of rat heart and skeletal muscles.
    • While some specific enzyme alterations (HK) were noted, the general metabolic pathways appear resilient to this level of exposure.

    More Related Videos

    Preclinical Drug Testing in Scalable 3D Engineered Muscle Tissues08:07

    Preclinical Drug Testing in Scalable 3D Engineered Muscle Tissues

    Published on: April 7, 2023

    Detection of Global DNA Methylation in the Hearts of Zebrafish Larvae05:07

    Detection of Global DNA Methylation in the Hearts of Zebrafish Larvae

    Published on: April 10, 2026

    Related Concept Videos

    Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment01:26

    Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment

    Anticholinesterases, also known as cholinesterase inhibitors, work by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, leading to its accumulation in the synaptic cleft. This accumulation indirectly enhances both muscarinic and nicotinic actions. These agents are classified as reversible or irreversible based on their mechanism of action.     
    Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
    Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects01:21

    Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

    Skeletal muscle relaxants are widely used for muscle paralysis and relieving pain following any muscle injury or stiffness. However, depending on the drug type, they can have adverse effects that range from mild to severe. Usually, nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers have minimal side effects. For example, drugs like d-tubocurarine, cisatracurium, and rocuronium cause hypotension, whereas drugs like baclofen, when stopped abruptly, can lead to the recurrence of spastic conditions.
    Unlike...
    Antihypertensive Drugs: Thiazide-Class Diuretics01:15

    Antihypertensive Drugs: Thiazide-Class Diuretics

    Thiazide diuretics are sulfonamide derivatives featuring a benzothiadiazine ring system in their molecular structure. Based on this structure, thiazide diuretics can be categorized into two groups: thiazide-type and thiazide-like diuretics. Thiazide-type diuretics, including hydrochlorothiazide and chlorothiazide, consist of a benzothiadiazine backbone with an attached sulfonamide group. Thiazide-like diuretics, such as chlorthalidone and indapamide, lack the thiazide ring but demonstrate...
    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers01:22

    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers

    Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat various types of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. These drugs block the sodium (Na+) channels in the cardiac cells, thereby affecting the movement of electrical impulses across the heart. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are divided into three subgroups: Class IA, Class IB, and Class IC, each with distinct mechanisms of action and effects on the heart.
    Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers01:20

    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers

    Class IV antiarrhythmic drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, block calcium channels. They primarily affect the heart, slowing the conduction in calcium-dependent tissues like the SA and AV nodes. These drugs manage reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and reduce ventricular rate in atrial flutter/fibrillation.
    Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
    Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents01:26

    Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents

    Positive inotropic agents are commonly used as the first line of treatment for heart failure. One such agent is digoxin, derived from the genus Digitalis, which has been known for centuries but effectively utilized since 1785. However, these cardiac glycosides can have potentially toxic effects due to their mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase and increasing contractility. Digoxin is absorbed orally and distributed in various tissues, including the CNS. It has a long...