The morbidity and mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases are increasing massively worldwide. The environmental pollutants especially agrochemicals are the most unrecognized cardiovascular risk factors. Monocrotophos (MCP), an organophosphate pesticide with acetylcholine esterase inhibition activity is widely used in India and other parts of the world. The present study investigated the cardiotoxicity of prolonged intake of MCP. Wistar rats were administered 1/50th of LD50 dosage of MCP (0.36mg/kg body weight) orally via gavage daily for three weeks. MCP administered animals exhibited mild-hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in blood. Cardiac oxidative stress was conferred by accumulation of protein carbonyls, lipid peroxidation and glutathione production. The cardiac markers (cTn-I, CK-MB and LDH) were showed elevated expression in blood plasma, which signals the cardiac tissue damage. The histopathology of the heart tissue authenticated the MCP induced tissue damage by showing signs of nonspecific inflammatory changes and oedema between muscle fibres. Thus the findings of this preliminary study illustrate the cardiotoxic effect of prolonged MCP intake in rats and suggest that MCP can be a possible independent and potent environmental cardiovascular risk factor.
