EFFECT OF TOLUENE INHALATION ON THE LIVER OF RATS - DEPENDENCE ON SEX DOSE AND EXPOSURE TIME

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 24  (3) , 242-+
Abstract
Groups of GFY rats were exposed to toluene inhalation as follows: males and females to 1000 mg/m3 6 h daily 5 times a wk for 6 mo.; males to 3500 mg/m3 8 h daily every day for 6 mo., and males to 1500, 3000 and 6000 mg/m3 8 h daily for 4 wk. Control groups were exposed to air inhalation under identical conditions. Toluene inhibited growth but caused no abnormal light-microscopic changes. Hepatic signs of compensation developed such as increased relative liver wt, smooth endoplasmic reticulum proliferation, increased succinate dehydrogenase activity, a decrease in glycogen content, increased cytochrome P-450 and b5 concentration, and increased hepatic aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine N-demethylase activity. Non-specific subcellular effect was observed in a small number of hepatocytes, i.e., rough endoplasmic reticulum dilatation, separation or ribosomes, mitochondria of variable shapes, and increased number of autophagous bodies. Bromosulfophthalein retention decreased, glutamic and oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity did not change. The changes were observed in both sexes, were dose-dependent, reversible and showed no or slight dependence on exposure time. Chronic toluene exposure has no specific hepatotoxic effect leading to chronic liver disease.