title: Comparative evaluation of hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of aroclors 1221 and 1254 in female rats.
abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental pollutants. This study compared effects of two PCB mixtures, Aroclors 1221 (A1221) and 1254 (A1254) on serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea, creatinine and uric acid in female rats. Histopathological changes in the liver and kidney were also examined. A group of adult Wistar rats served as controls. Groups II and III were subcutaneously injected with A1221 and A1254 at 10 mg/kg every other day for 6 weeks. At the end of this period, all animals were decapitated and blood samples were collected. Serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, ALT, AST and ALP levels were determined. Liver and kidney were collected for histopathological examination. They were fixed in formaldehyde and processed for light microscopy. Both A1221 and 1254 significantly elevated serum ALT (p < 0.05) and AST (p < 0.01) levels compared to the control group. Serum ALP values were significantly increased by A1221 (p < 0.05), but they were unaffected in the A1254 group. Treatment with both A1221 and A1254 significantly increased serum levels of urea (p < 0.05), creatinine (p < 0.01) and uric acid (except in the A1221 group; p < 0.005). Distinct histopathological changes including renal corpuscular atrophy, peritubular vascular congestion and dilated cortical tubules, sinusoidal dilatation, congestion and mononuclear cell infiltration were observed. These findings suggest that PCBs may cause nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in female rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Firat University, Medical School, Elazig, Turkey. skutlu@firat.edu.tr
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kutlu
authors.forename: Neriman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Colakoglu
authors.forename: Ihsan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Halifeoglu
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sandal
authors.forename: Ayse D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Seyran
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Bayram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001140:Aroclors / Q000633:toxicity*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine) / Q000633:toxicity*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D036401:Toxicity Tests, Chronic; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001140:Aroclors; D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); C032739:aroclor 1221; D014527:Uric Acid; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase