Effect of repeated dermal application of endosulfan to rats

Dermal application of endosulfan to male (18.75, 37.50 and 62.50 mg/kg/day) and female (9.83, 19.66 and 32.0 mg/kg/d) rats for 30 days produced hyperexcitability, tremor, dyspnea and salivation. There were no deaths. The signs of toxicity subsided after a week. Endosulfan produced no significant changes in the organ:body weight ratio. No significant changes were seen in the histological and hematological indices. However, a significant decrease in liver GOT and GPT and serum GPT activities and a significant rise in serum alkaline phosphatase and total protein were recorded in the endosulfan-treated animals. There were no changes in LDH. Residue analysis revealed higher levels of total endosulfan in fatty tissues of rats receiving the highest dose of endosulfan.