Modification of hexachlorophene toxicity by dieldrin and Aroclor 1254

Abstract

Hexachlorophene (HCP) was fed singly or paired with either aflatoxin B 1 (AF), Aroclor 1254 (AR), or dieldrin (D) to Fischer-344 rats for 8 weeks beginning at 5 weeks of age. For HCP fed singly, there was no mortality at 400 ppm or less, 80% mortality in males and 73% in females at 600 ppm, and 100% mortality in both sexes at 820 ppm. Paralysis was apparent in one female at 400 ppm and in all animals at 600 ppm. Minimal neuronal degeneration was evident in the brain at 50 ppm, focal necrosis and myelin vacuolization at 400 ppm or higher, and focal hemorrhage at 600 ppm. While addition of AF at 1 ppm did not affect the toxicity of 600 ppm of HCP, addition of AR at 160 ppm reduced mortality to less than 7%, and addition of D at 100 ppm to a diet containing 900 ppm of HCP reduced mortality from 100 to less than 4%. For both the HCP/AR and the HCP/D combinations, no paralysis was observed, although the histologic changes in the brain were still apparent.