Relationship between serum enzymes and histological changes in liver after administration of heptachlor in the rat

Abstract

Investigations described previously / 5 / showed that after a single dose as well as during the longtime administration of heptachlor, a chlorinated cyclodiene insecticide, increased glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and aldolase in the serum of rats. The conclusion was drawn that an increase of activity in these enzymes may represent a suitable criterion for the evaluation of acute and subacute effects of h e p t a c h l o r . I t has a l s o been shown / 1 , 4 / t h a t some c h l o r i n a t e d i n s e c t i c i d e s cause p a t h o l o g i c a l t e r a t i o n s i n t h e l i v e r o f e x p e r i m e n t a l a n i m a l s . T h e r e f o r e t h e main o b j e c t i v e o f t h i s s t u d y was to d e t e r m i n e the r e l a t i o n s h i p be tween i n c r e a s e i n t h e serum enzyme a c t i v i t y , d e s c r i b e d above~ and h i s t o l o g i c a l changes in l i v e r f o l l o w i n g a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f h e p t a c h l o r . S p e c i f i c a l l y , and f rom a t h e r a p e u t i c and p r e v e n t i v e a s p e c t , i n f o r m a t i o n i s n e e d e d c o n c e r n i n g the t ime c o u r s e o f t h e s e a l t e r a t i o n s .