Biochemical Changes in Organs of Chicks and Rats Poisoned with Ethylene Dibromide and Carbon Tetrachloride

Abstract

Abstract The following biochemical parameters were determined in the livers of rats and chicks which had been previously treated with ethylene dibromide (EDB) and carbon tetrachloride: sulfhydryl groups, ascorbic acid, nicotinamid‐adenine‐dinucleotides (NAD and NADP) and alkaline phosphatase. Ascorbic acid levels were also determined in adrenals and alkaline phosphatase activity in blood. A marked depression in the level of free sulfhydryl groups was observed in the livers of the two species during the first hours after poisoning. The initial drop in the SH level was followed by a subsequent rise, the rate of which differed with species, sex, and poison. Carbon tetrachloride treatment resulted in a very marked depression of ascorbic acid content in rat liver while EDB caused only a slight depression. The ascorbic acid content of chick liver was less affected by the two poisons as was the liver NAD (P) content of both species. A rise of alkaline phosphatase was found with both poisons in rat liver in contrast to depression of the enzyme activity in chick liver. Rats and chicks responded differently to toxic action of the two poisons. This may be related to the different metabolism of the poisons in the two species.