Hepatic alteration

No gross or histological hepatic alterations were observed in rabbits exposed to <480 mg/kg/day or chickens exposed to up to 720 mg/kg/day, respectively, of Cellulube 220 for an acute duration (Carpenter et al. 1959). No hepatic effects were reported in rats exposed to 50 mg/kg/day of Pydraul 90E for an intermediate duration (Monsanto 1979). Several intermediate-exposure rat studies showed liver effects for organophosphate esters. Liver weight increases were shown for tributyl phosphate at 250 mg/kg/day (Laham et al. 1985 Oishi et al. 1982), trioctyl phosphate at 250 mg/kg/day (Oishi et al. 1982),... 

It is clear that the liver is a target for 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxicity in animals. In humans, hepatic alterations have been observed sometimes following exposure to high 2,3,7,8-TCDD levels. In general, the effects are mild and transient, which might explain the negative findings of Calvert et al. (1992). 

For the assessment of focal hepatic alterations, it is preferable to use needles with which one can obtain cytological as well as histological material in one session, namely with the help of fine-needle technology (e.g. Trucut bioptic gun, 21 G). A further development is to... 

More frequently encountered are acquired defects in bUe acid synthesis, which have been noted in Liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. In acute hepatitis, alterations of bile acid synthesis and conjugation occur because of hepatic parenchymal cell disease. In cirrhosis, there is a marked reduction in cholic acid synthesis with a low concentration of biliary deoxycholic acid. These abnormalities are due both to decreased synthesis and to portosystemic shunting. The... 

Becker FF, Sell S. 1979. Alpha-fetoprotein levels and hepatic alterations during chemical carcinogenesis in C57BL/6N mice. Cancer Res 39 3491-3494. 

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