Biochemical and cytogenetic effects in rats caused by short‐term ingestion of aroclor 1254 or firemaster BP6

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Abstract
Male rats were fed either 0, 5, 50, or 500 ppm Aroclor 1254 (ARO) or Firemaster BP6 (FM) mixed in ground rat chow for 2, 3, or 5 wk. The relative biological response to the two chemicals sometimes varied with dose level. For example, for some parameters FM caused a greater effect than ARO at the 5 and 50 ppm levels, but not at the 500 ppm level, where, presumably, the maximum response was attained. The experimental design did not permit a totally unambiguous comparison of all the responses to ARO and FM. Some apparent differences in biochemical responses determined at sacrifice may have been partly due to the fact that, for the 3 wk study, rats were exposed to FM 48 hr longer than to ARO, and thus the comparison of ARO and FM toxiclties should be considered tentative. The following evaluations were made, based on the assumption that this 2 day difference had no effect. Relative kidney and testis weights, hematology, SGPT, SGOT, BUN, plasma corticosterone, rate of liver protein synthesis per gram of tissue, liver dry weight, lyophilizable kidney, liver, or testes, incidence of chromosome abnormalities, and number of cells in mitosis from bone marrow or spermatogonial cells showed no consistent or dose‐related change with either chemical at any level. Growth and adipose tissue weight were equally depressed by ARO and FM after a 3 wk feeding at the 500 ppm level. The growth effect appeared to be due primarily to decreased food efficiency. Three responses were more sensitive to ARO than to FM: decreased liver protein and liver RNA per gram of tissue and decreased plasma glucose. The effects on liver growth, increased liver lipid (total lipid, cholesterol, phospholipid, and neutral lipid), elevated serum cholesterol, increased microsomal enzyme activities, and decreased liver RNA synthesis were more pronounced with FM than with ARO.