Effects of dietary polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated biphenyls on the renal and hepatic toxicities of several chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents in mice

Abstract

Male ICR mice were fed a control diet or the same diet supplemented with 100 ppm polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) or 200 ppm polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) for 28 d before single ip injections of various quantities of trichloroethylene (TRI), tetrachloro‐ethylene (TET), 1,1,2‐trichloroethane (TCE), or carbon tetrachloride (CCI 4 ). The ratio of liver weight to body weight was increased by dietary PBB and dietary PCB. PBB appeared to be more potent in this respect. Functional damage to the liver (elevated serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activity) was not produced by acute administration of TRI, TET, or TCE. CCI A ‐induced liver damage was greater in PCB‐treated mice than in controls, and greater in PBB‐treated than in PCB‐treated mice. Functional renal damage (elevated blood urea nitrogen concentration, decreased organic anion transport capacity) was produced by acute administration of all solvents except TET. TRI‐induced renal dysfunction was potentiated by dietary PBB and dietary PCB. Both TCE‐induc...