In conclusion, prolonged exposure to dicrotophos affected AChE activity
in RBC, plasma and brain, axon in sciatic nerve and fasciculus gracilis at
medulla and cervical spinal cord level and nerve conduction velocity in sciatic
nerve in rats. The decrease in nerve conduction velocity was probably due to
the decrease in thickness of myelin sheath combined with fiber degeneration
in the sciatic nerve. The findings indicate the probable prominent damages to
myelinated axons and might be useful in describing muscle weakness caused
by organophosphates. Also, myelinated and unmyelinated fiber degeneration
observed in the fasciculus gracilis at medulla and cervical spinal cord level
might be useful in describing locomotor and sensory abnormalities observed
in persons exposed to the insecticides.