SERUM BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES RELATED TO THE HEPATIC-FUNCTION IN PIGS FOLLOWING ATRAZINE TREATMENT

Biochemical and histopathological parameters of the hepatic function w ere used to quantify the hepatotoxic: effects of atrazine in female pi gs (gilts) undergoing intensive breeding. Female pigs (cross-bred Swed ish and German landrace) received 2 mg atrazine kg(-1) body wt. in fee d daily during 19 days of the oestrous cycle. The last treatment day c orresponded to day -3 of the onset of the next expected oestrus. Blood samples were collected three times daily at 3-h intervals on the firs t four post-treatment days. Serum activities of gamma-glutamyltransfer ase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were determined. Serum activity of GGT was significantly increased throughout the four post-treatment da ys. In comparison with the control values, a slight but not significan t decrease was observed in the serum activities of ALT, AST and AP. Hi stopathological examination of the liver of exposed pigs showed mild c entrolobular parenchymatous degeneration. Interstitial connective tiss ue proliferation resulted in narrow and irregular bile canaliculi.