Acute hepatotoxicity of DDT: effect on glucocorticoid receptors and serum transcortin.
The hepatotoxic effect of 1,1 bis (p-chlorophenyl) 2,2,2 trichloroethane (DDT) treatment for 10 consecutive days has been examined in Wistar rats. DDT exposure increased relative liver weight, dose dependently, with a marked decrease of glycogen content and profound histological changes including cytoplasmic vacuolization, signs of necrosis and nuclear enlargement. The hepatomegaly induced by DDT (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight day-1) appeared not to be accompanied by a significant alteration of the hepatic glucocorticoid receptor concentration and affinity while, serum corticosteroid binding globulin level increased slightly with the lower dose of the pesticide. It is concluded that a short-term exposure to DDT did not lead to a status stress and, therefore, the hepatotoxic effect of organochlorine seemed not to be mediated by endogenous glucocorticoids.
Laboratoire de Physiologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Jarzouna 7021, Tunisia.
K
K
Ben Rhouma
O
O
Tébourbi
M
M
Sakly
D000818:Animals; D003634:DDT / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014156:Transcortin / Q000378:metabolism
D007306:Insecticides; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D014156:Transcortin; D003634:DDT