Ams. Chandra et al., HEMATOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF 1,3,5-TRINITROBENZENE (TNB) IN RATS IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO, Journal of toxicology and environmental health, 46(1), 1995, pp. 57-72
We studied the hematological effects of single and repealed exposure t
o 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB) in rats. Male F-344 rats were gavaged wi
th TNB al 35.5 and 71 mg/kg in corn oil. Blood was collected 5 h and 2
4 h after a single oral dose or 24 h after daily oral doses for 4 or 1
0 d in four different set of experiments. A dose-dependent methemoglob
inemia was present only in blood collected 5 h after a single dose. A
highly significant dose-dependent anemia with reduced red cells, hemog
lobin, and hemotocrit was present in rats receiving TNB for 4 or 10 d.
A dose-dependent decrease in serum triglycerides was present in rats
receiving TNB for 10 d. There was no hemolysis when rat erythrocytes w
ere incubated with TNB (in vitro) for 9 h. Spectral changes of hemoglo
bin recorded during the incubation with TNB confirm methemoglobin form
ation and progressive denaturation of hemoglobin-forming hemichromes.
The significance of methemoglobin and hemichrome formation is discusse
d, and a probable hypothesis for the hemolytic anemia is suggested.