Effect of feeding mercury and Aroclor 1260 on certain liver enzymes of Wistar rats

Forty eight young male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of 12 each and were fed on 10% protein diet. The control group was fed on diet mixed with 1 mL coconut oil. The other groups were fed on 0.01 ppm aqueous HgCl₂ and 1 mL coconut oil or 100 ppm PCB (Aroclor 1260) in coconut oil or 0.01 ppm HgCl₂ and 100 ppm PCB mixed in the diet. The rats were fed on this diet for 120 days and the toxicity was assessed by estimating enzyme levels in the livers of these rats. HgCl₂ fed rats showed significant decrease in liver succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), alkaline and acid phosphatase (ALP and ACP), aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (GOT and GPT). On the other hand, PCB fed rats showed significant decrease in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and GOT and increase in GPT activity in their liver. The PCB + Hg fed rats showed consistent decrease in liver LDH, SDH, ACP, GOT and GPT activity. This indicates that, PCB + Hg combination has synergistic inhibitory effect on enzymes of metabolic pathways as well as enzymes of biological functions.

Key words:

• Liver enzymes
• Hg
• PCB
• toxicity of mixtures

Notes

Address all correspondence to: Dr. C. Vaman Rao, Department of Zoology, St. Xavier's College, Mahapalika marg, Bombay. 400001. India.