Pathologic effects of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-and 2,3',4,4',5,5'-hexabromobiphenyl in white leghorn cockerels

Pathologic effects of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromobiphenyl (HBB), 2,3',4,4',5,5'-HBB, and a commercial mixture of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) were compared in White leghorn cockerels. Diets containing 1, 10, or 100 ppm PBB, 4 or 10 ppm 2,3',4'4',5,5'-HBB, or 10 or 62 ppm 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HBB were fed for 28 days. Doses of 10 ppm of each chemical were used to provide a direct comparison of toxicity. Since nearly 4% of PBB consists of 2,3',4,4',5,5'-HBB and approximately 62% consists of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HBB, effects of doses of 4 and 62 ppm, respectively, were compared with effects of 100 ppm of PBB to determine if either of the congeners were mainly responsible for the pathologic effects caused by the mixture. Liver weights were increased in cockerels fed diets containing 62 ppm of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HBB or 10 or 100 ppm PBB. Hepatocytes were enlarged and vacuolated and lymphoid cells of the bursa of Fabricius were depleted by 10 ppm 2,3',4,4',5,5'-HBB, ppm 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HBB, and 10 or 100 ppm PBB. These dietary concentrations caused ultrastructural changes in hepatocytes consisting of vacuolation, increased smooth endoplasmic reticulum, swollen mitochondria, and disruption of mitochondrial cristae. When either of the congeners were given in concentrations relative to their concentrations in PBB, they were less toxic than the mixture. When concentrations in diets were equal, PBB caused more severe effects than 2,3',4,4',5,5'-HBB. The least effects were seen with 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HBB. Results indicate that the two congeners chosen for study are not individually as toxic as the parent mixture.