LIVER-FUNCTION IN RATS TREATED INDIVIDUALLY AND WITH A COMBINATION OFXYLENE, TOLUENE AND METHANOL

The individual and combined influences of three industrial solvents (n amely xylene, toluene, and methanol) on certain parameters of liver fu nction in laboratory rats have been studied. Although individual treat ments with all three solvents elevated activities of serum enzymes (i. e., GOT, GTP, and alkaline phosphatase), and did manifest hyperbilirub inemia, nevertheless metabolic interaction occurring after their combi ned treatment suggested a weak antagonistic mechanism. This assumption has been supported by the fact that the detoxification ability of the liver, as indicated by the formation of hippuric acid, improved after the combined treatment.