S. O. Salami

Macroscopic anatomy of the lower respiratory system in a nocturnal burrowing rodent: African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse 1840).

With 3 figures and 4 tables

Ameliorative Effect of Vitamin E on Sensorimotor and Cognitive Changes Induced by Chronic Chlorpyrifos Exposure in Wistar Rats

The use of pesticides is inevitable in contemporary world because of their role in the improvement of food production through increase in crop yields and quality, reduction of farm labour requirements hence lowering cost of production, and improving public health through control of vector and vector-borne diseases (Weiss et al., 2004). Despite all these benefits, pesticides constitute menace to the health of man, animals and even the environment. This is because they are poorly selective and are toxic to non-target species, including humans. The segments of the population that are at the greatest risk of exposure are those that are occupationally exposed, such as agricultural workers. Despite the strict measures put in place concerning its commercialization and use, pesticides sales has increased in recent years (Carlock et al., 1999). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about 3 million cases of acute intoxication and 220,000 deaths are attributable to pesticides each year with majority of these cases occurring in less developed countries (He, 2000; Clegg & van Gemert, 1999), particularly in Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America (Pancetti et al., 2007). Although many pesticides cause neurotoxicity, insecticides are the most acutely neurotoxic to humans and other non-target species compared to other pesticides (Costa et al., 2008). Association between acute exposure to pesticides and neurotoxicity is well known (Lotti, 2000) but the potential effects of chronic low-level exposure are less well established (Alavanja et al., 2004; Ambali et al., 2010a; Ambali & Aliyu, 2012). Organophosphate (OP) compounds are one of the most widely used constituting about 50% global insecticide use (Casida & Quistad, 2004). Studies in humans showed neurological, cognitive and psychomotor impairments following cumulative exposure to OPs and organochlorines in people from agricultural communities, without history of acute poisoning (Kamel & Hoppin 2004; Kamel et al., 2007). Neurobehavioural changes following low-dose OP exposure have been reported in sheep farmers (Stephens et al., 1995),