Effects of toxaphene on hepatic enzyme induction and circulating steroid levels in the rat.
Rats were given a single dose of toxaphene (120 mg/kg, equivalent to 1/2 LD50) and sacrificed at 1, 5, and 15 days. Liver weight and hepatic microsomal enzyme activity were increased at day 5 and 15. The level of plasma testosterone was significantly decreased at day 15. In a second experiment rats were given 2.4 mg/kg daily and sacrificed at 1, 3 and 6 months. Liver weight and microsomal enzyme activity were significantly increased over controls; enzyme activity was, however, decreasing by the end of the experiment. Plasma testosterone levels were not affected. It is concluded that enhanced hepatic enzyme induction causes only a transient drop in circulating testosterone levels followed by a return to normal values.
D000818:Animals; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013256:Steroids / Q000097:blood*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014112:Toxaphene / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007306:Insecticides; D013256:Steroids; D013739:Testosterone; D014112:Toxaphene