Toxic response of linoleic acid anilide in female rats

The toxicity of linoleic acid anilide (LAA) and heated linoleic acid anilide (HLAA) was studied in female rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were given 250 mg/kg of LAA or HLAA in mineral oil, by gavage, on alternate days for two weeks. Control rats received an equal volume of mineral oil. The animals were sacrificed at day 1, 7 and 28 following the last dose. Organ-to-body weight ratio was increased for spleen in both LAA and HLAA treated rats at day 1. Lung, kidney and brain showed increases in this ratio at some time point, whereas, thymus in the HLAA group showed a decrease at day 28. Among blood parameters, red blood cells and hemoglobin content decreased in both LAA and HLAA treated groups at day 1 and in the LAA group at day 7. Serum IgA levels increased throughout the study in both treatment groups and were more pronounced in HLAA treated rats. Splenic T-helper lymphocyte numbers decreased in the HLAA group at day 1, whereas, other cell types were not affected. The changes observed in female rats are comparable to our previous findings in male rats and relatively minor in relation to sex differences. These results further support that hemopoietic system is an early target of fatty acid anilide toxicity.