malathion-increased hepatotoxicity in diabetic rats

Background: malathion (mt), an organophosphorus pesticide, induces hepatotoxicity and is associated with hyperglycemia and the development of diabetes mellitus. objectives: this study was aimed to evaluate the effects of sub-acute exposure to sub-lethal dose of mt in the liver of diabetic rats. methods: non-diabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats received mt at a dose of 150 mg/kg/day orally. after 28 days, fasting blood glucose, glucose tolerance test (gtt), serum aminotransferases, and liver histopathology and antioxidant status were examined. results: mt impaired gtt, caused alteration in histopathology of histopathology and antioxidant status of liver in non-diabetic rats. impairment in gtt did not observe in diabetic rats exposed to mt, but histopathology changes and antioxidant status alteration was more severe. conclusion: repeated sub-lethal dose of mt exacerbated hepatotoxicity in diabetes condition through further impairment in the antioxidant defense system.