ORGAN ENLARGEMENT AND LIVER-FUNCTION IN BENOMYL FED RATS

The effect of feeding rats with varying doses of benomyl, methyl-1-(bu tyl carbamoyl)-2-benzimidazole carbamate, for seven days on the enlarg ement of the liver, kidney and spleen and the functional capacity of w eanling albino rats was studied. The doses fed in rat chow were 0, 40, 80, 125, 165, 200, 240, 280, 320, 360, 400, 440, 480, 520, 560, and 6 00mg/kg body weight. The results showed that all the rat organs were e nlarged to different degrees. The liver shaved the highest enlargement and the spleen the least. These enlargements were dose dependent and positively correlated with the amount of the fungicide administered to the rats. The serum enzymes, SGOT, SGPT and BUN increased significant ly while the SALP showed only a slight increase above the control valu es. Benomyl, a membrane pertubent caused morphological damage to the r at organs, especially the liver resulting in necroticised cells, oedem a and enlargement and the resultant increase in some serum enzymes.