ACCUMULATION AND TOXICITY OF CARBON TETRACHLORIDE AFTER REPEATED INHALATION IN RATS

Abstract

Eight and 24 hr after the single inhalation of the vapor, CCl₄ deposited mostly in the adipose tissue in the rats. Carbon tetrachloride disappeared from the tissue very rapidly leaving less than one twentieth of 2 hr value at 48 hr.
Groups of rats were exposed to 10, 50 and 100 ppm of CC1₄ vapor 3 hr a day for as long as 6 to 8 weeks. Triglycerides of the liver increased markedly in 50 and 100 ppm groups and very slightly in 10 ppm, showing the striking correlation between the level of CC1₄ and the amount of triglycerides accumulated. However, in the range of CC1₄ level adopted, the effect of the repetition of the inhalations was limited and there was no progressive or cumulative change in the amount of hepatic triglycerides. The level of CC1₄ in adipose tissue also correlated well with the concentration of the vapor, but its accumulation after repeated exposures was not remarkable. Notwith- standing the presence of marked fatty metamorphosis of the liver, serum transaminases remained in the normal range.