BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC CHANGES IN LIVER AND KIDNEY OF GUINEA-PIGS FOLLOWING DERMAL EXPOSURE TO HEXACHLOROPHENE

Guinea pigs were dermally exposed to 50 mg/kg hexachlorophene (HCP) fo r 7, 15, and 30 days. Enzymes including alanine and aspartate amino tr ansaminases, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, beta-glucuronidase, and la ctic dehydrogenase showed significant increases in liver and kidney. S ignificant increases were observed in lipid peroxidation, while glutat hione content decreased in liver and kidney. The activities of these e nzymes also increased in the serum of HCP-exposed animals. On histolog ic examination the liver showed a moderate degree of congestion, fatty changes, degeneration, and necrosis of hepatocytes. In the kidney des quamation of epithelial cells in the convoluted tubules and foci of mo nonuclear inflammatory cells and congestion were observed. The biochem ical and histopathologic changes were found to be dependent on the dur ation of exposure.