THERMOREGULATION IN MICE TREATED WITH PARATHION, CARBARYL, OR DDT

The rectal temperatures of mice held at 1, 27 and 38.degree. C were determined immediately before and at several intervals following injection (i.p.) with parathion, carbaryl and DDT [pesticides]. Whereas the rectal temperature was unchanged by DDT, there was a slight decrease in temperature of parathion-treated mice held at 1.degree. C and a decrease in temperature of carbaryl-treated mice at all temperatures tested. A correlation was shown between cholinesterase inhibition and temperature decrease. Loss of thermoregulation in carbaryl-inhibited mice could be reduced by atropine at both low and high ambient temperatures. The LD50 values of mice injected with parathion and carbaryl were signicantly less at 1 and 38.degree. C than at 27.degree. C, whereas the LD50 of DDT-injected mice was unaltered by temperature.