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Biochemical and toxicological effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) congeners in female rats

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Abstract

The capability of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)2 and six congeners to induce toxic and biochemical changes in rats was investigated. In addition to TCDD, the following compounds were administered at a dose of 40 or 400 μg/kg/day for three days P.O.: 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (DCDD); 1,2,4-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TrCDD); 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin; l,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin; 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB); and 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB). Six days after treatment the animals were killed. Lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity were determined in liver and kidney. Hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity was determined 48 hr following the administration of 400 μg/kg of each congener or 40 μg/kg of TCDD. With the exception of PCB and TCDD, the other congeners produced no toxic or biochemical changes at the doses given as determined by the above parameters. PCB (400 μg/kg) resulted in a 4-fold increase in lipid peroxidation and a 69% decrease in GSH-PX activity. These results were comparable to the effects of a 40 μg/kg dose of TCDD. PCB treatment resulted in a 80% decrease in thymus weight, and a 3.8-fold increase in AHH activity which were comparable to the effects of TCDD. A correlation appears to exist between the ability to induce hepatic AHH activity, enhance lipid peroxidation. inhibit GSH-PX activity, and decrease body and thymus weights.

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Abbreviations

TCDD:

2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

DCDD:

1,2,4-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

TrCDD:

1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

OCDD:

3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl

PCB:

2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl

HCB:

malondialdehyde

MDA:

aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase

AHH:

glutathione peroxidase

GSH-PX:

8-aminolevulinic acid

ALA:

structure-activity relations

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 68105, Omaha, Nebraska

    Mohammad A. Shara & Sidney J. Stohs

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  1. Mohammad A. Shara
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  2. Sidney J. Stohs
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Shara, M.A., Stohs, S.J. Biochemical and toxicological effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) congeners in female rats. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 16, 599–605 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055816

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055816

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