The toxicodynamics of benzene, ethanol, and benzene plus ethanol based on the histopathological examination of selected organs in the rat.

The influence of ethanol on benzene toxicity in the course of prolonged 26-week intoxication was investigated in Wistar rats. A dose of 1/30 DL50/24h of benzene in oil solution was administered subcutaneously once daily, 5 days a week. Drinking water was replaced by a 10% water solution of ethanol ad libidum. Specimens of the liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, and heart were taken for histopathological examination. Changes in the liver confirmed the hepatotoxic action of benzene and were unaffected by the simultaneous administration of ethanol. In the lungs and spleen the lymphatic system showed signs of damage which became more pronounced in joint exposure to benzene plus ethanol. The authors conclude that alcohol abuse by people professionally exposed to benzene and other lipophilic petroleum derivatives (as in the petrochemical industry) may increase the toxic effects of these substances.

Effects of auxiliary liver transplantation on oxygen consumption in the graft and recipient's liver mitochondria. Possible inter-liver regulating mechanism.

Studies were made on inbred rats of Lewis strain with heterotopically transplanted syngeneic liver to assess the effect of this type of liver transplantation on the liver mitochondria. Mitochondria were isolated from own and transplanted liver in 1 and 3.5 months after auxiliary liver transplantation. They showed a progressive decrease in oxygen uptake and citrulline production accompanied by an increase in ATP-ase activity in mitochondria of the recipient's liver and of the graft, as well as diminution in their sensitivity to dinitrophenol, especially in the transplant mitochondria. The results suggest an existence of inhibitory factors transferred by the serum bringing the energetic function in recipient and auxiliary liver mitochondria to a similar level.