Body burden of hexachlorobenzene and its effects on some esterases in tissues of young male rats

Abstract

Feeding male Wistar rats 50 or 100 ppm HCB in the diet for 62 days evoked induction of liver esterase activity toward thiophenyl, p-nitrophenyl, and indophenyl acetates. The induction rate, as well as the HCB residues, in liver, brain, kidney, and heart were dose-dependent. An increase in esterase activity toward thiophenyl acetate was also observed in the kidney at the 100-ppm HCB level. Serum esterase activity toward malaoxon was elevated at 50 and 100 ppm HCB and that toward paraoxon was increased at 100 ppm. Liver esterase hydrolysis of malaoxon was induced only at 100 ppm HCB. Under the condition used, the rats fed 10 ppm HCB were observed to be similar to the controls; the concentrations of HCB residues found in the liver, brain, kidney, and heart were dose dependent.