Exposure of Neonatal Rats to Parathion Elicits Sex-Selective Reprogramming of Metabolism and Alters the Response to a High-Fat Diet in Adulthood
2008

Effects of Parathion on Rat Metabolism and Diet Response

Sample size: 12 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Lassiter T. Leon, Ryde Ian T., MacKillop Emiko A., Brown Kathleen K., Levin Edward D., Seidler Frederic J., Slotkin Theodore A.

Primary Institution: Duke University Medical Center

Hypothesis

Does neonatal exposure to parathion affect metabolism and dietary response in rats?

Conclusion

Neonatal exposure to low-dose parathion disrupts glucose and fat homeostasis in a sex-selective manner.

Supporting Evidence

  • Male rats exposed to low-dose parathion gained weight but showed signs of prediabetes.
  • Female rats were more sensitive to metabolic disruption from parathion exposure.
  • High-fat diet effects were altered by prior parathion exposure in both sexes.

Takeaway

Baby rats exposed to a pesticide called parathion grew differently when they got older, especially when they ate a lot of fat.

Methodology

Neonatal rats were given parathion doses and later assessed for weight gain, food consumption, and metabolic markers.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the selection of doses and the interpretation of metabolic effects.

Limitations

The study focused only on neonatal rats and may not directly translate to humans.

Participant Demographics

Neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats, both male and female.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.0002

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1289/ehp.11673

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