Mechanism of fenvalerate-withdrawal-dependent recovery in metabolism of a catfish, Clarias batrachus

The effects of protein synthesis inhibitors on fenvalerate-withdrawal-dependent recovery in citrate synthase (CS), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6-PDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), RNA, and protein of brain, liver, and skeletal muscle of Clarias batrachus were studied to explore possible mode of action of a pyrethroid insecticide at metabolic level. The administration of actinomycin D or cycloheximide inhibited partially or completely the withdrawal-dependent increase in enzyme activities, RNA, and protein contents, substantiating de novo synthesis of these macromolecules during recovery. The inhibition was more pronounced in response to cycloheximide reflecting recovery in translation process. This also suggests the possibility of fenvalerate-induced impairment of metabolism through inhibition of enzyme synthesis.