Trichloroethylene: Further Studies of the Effects on Body and Organ Weights and Plasma Butyrylcholinesterase Activity in Mice

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a major industrial degreaser to which a large number of workers are daily exposed. The effects of continuous and intermittent inhalation of TCE were studied in male and female mice. Plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity, body, liver, kidney and spleen weights were measured. The liver was studied histologically and motor activity measured with Doppler radar. Continuous TCE-exposure (37-300 ppm) increased plasma BuChE activity in the males in a time and concentration dependent manner. After 30 days at 37 ppm the increase was .apprx. 25%. Exposure to 300 ppm for 30 days increased the activity 3 times. BuChE activity in females was only slightly influenced even at 300 ppm. Liver weight was increased in a time and concentration dependent manner in both sexes. In animals continuously exposed for 30 days to 300 ppm, liver weight was roughly twice that of the air-exposed controls. Morphological changes were observed in the liver of TCE-exposed animals. Above 150 ppm kidney weight in both sexes was significantly increased. This effect was more pronounced in the males than in the females. Spleen weight was not influenced by the exposure. Body weight increase was slightly lower in exposed animals. Plasma BuChE activity and liver weight returned to normal when exposure was terminated. Intermittent exposure to short pulses of high concentration of TCE had roughly the same effect on BuChE, body and organ weight as continuous exposure to the same time-weighted average. Motor activity was affected by the intermittent exposure schedules. At 900 ppm a decrease in activity was observed. At 3600 ppm motor activity was considerably increased.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: