The effect of carbon monoxide on hormone levels and organ weights in rats

Male Wistar rats were exposed continuously for 1 or 2 months to 25 or 100 ppm CO. The concentrations of noradrenaline in the hypothalamus, corticosterone and thyroxine in serum and of adrenal catecholamines were estimated. After exposure to 25 ppm CO no significant changes were observed in the serum corticosterone and thyroxine, hypothalamic noradrenaline, adrenal catecholamines levels, or in the weights of lung, spleen, adrenal glands, liver and the whole body. Exposure to 100 ppm CO induced a decrease in hypothalamic noradrenaline and serum thyroxine and an increase in adrenal catecholamines and serum corticosterone. Whole-body and organ weights were unchanged except for a slight decrease in liver weight. The results suggest a non-specific stress response in the rat to 100 ppm CO whilst concentration of 25 ppm CO was without any stress effect.