Impact of protein deficiency and exposure to hexachlorocyclohexane or malathion on lipid metabolism in pregnant rats.

Dietary intake of three oral doses of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) (60 mg/kg body wt) or malathion (500 mg/kg) by normal and protein-deficient diet fed pregnant rats on the 6th, 10th and 14th day of gestation resulted in the impairment of lipid metabolism, viz. hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. The cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid contents in serum, brain, liver, kidney and uterus were increased significantly by HCH and malathion exposure, irrespective of the protein content in the diet. The incorporation of [1,2-14C]acetate into the hepatic lipids was stimulated by both HCH and malathion, suggesting a higher rate of lipid synthesis in the liver of normal and protein-deficient diet fed dams. The low protein content in the diet intensified the pesticide-induced changes and more severe alterations were noticed in HCH exposed dams than in malathion exposed dams.