The Ultrastructure of Livers of Rats Fed DDT and Dieldrin

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Abstract
Adult male rats were fed different dosage levels of DDT, dieldrin, or combination of the two. After eight weeks, hexobarbital sleeping time was determined in some of these rats. Livers of the other rats were examined with the light microscope and electron microscope. Hexobarbital sleeping time was significantly reduced in all treated rats compared to that of controls, but no difference was found between the various treated groups. Liver weights of all treated groups were significantly higher than those of the controls, and livers of rats fed the combination of DDT and dieldrin weighed significantly more than those rats given DDT or dieldrin alone. Morphological changes, including an increase in smooth endoplasmic reticulum and atypical mitochondria, were observed in all treated groups and were more pronounced in rats given both DDT and dieldrin.