US EPA

2155496 

Journal Article 

Abstract 

Effect of chronic ingestion of polychlorinated biphenyls on rat 

Bruckner, JV; Khanna, KL; Cornish, HH 

1974 

1 

Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
ISSN: 0041-008X
EISSN: 1096-0333 

29 

1 

103-103 

English 

WOS:A1974T653800077 

is part of a larger document 3378179 Abstracts of papers for the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, Washington, D.C. March 10–14, 1974

Widespread industrial use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) has apparently resulted in their contamination of the environment and accumulationin tissues of many biological species, including man. As little information is available on the effect of prolonged, low-level exposure of mammals to PCB’s, a chronic feeding study was initiated. A commercial PCB mixture (Aroclor 1242) was mixed with ground chow and fed to male Sprague-Dawley rats at levels of 0, 5 and 25 ppm. After intervals of 2, 4 and 6 months on this regimen, groups of rats were sacrificed and examined for PCB-induced bioeffects. Significant elevations of urinary porphyrin excretion and liver microsomal hydroxylase activity were initially observed in rats consuming 25p pm for a 2-month period. Both the 5 and the 25 ppm regimens markedly induced porphyrin excretion and hydroxylase activity in the 4 and 6-month groups. Significant increases in liver weight and total liver lipid were also noted after feeding 5 or 25 ppm for 4 and 6 months. Histopathological examination revealed lipid vacuolation of the renal and hepatic parenchyma in the animals. Such findings indicate that long-term, low-level exposure to PCB’s may result in alteration of a variety of biologic parameters. 

Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology 

Washington, D.C. 

March 10–14, 1974