Subacute toxicity of paraquat in rats--biochemical effects

The toxic effects of paraquat administered to rats in drinking water for a period of 30 days were studied. Paraquat had no effect on the body weight gain or on organ weights of rats. However, microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity and cytochrome P-450 content were increased in rats given paraquat in drinking water. The obtained differences were statistically significant. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was not significantly changed with respect to control animals but a statistically changed, with respect to control animals, statistically significant decrease was established in serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activity of test animals compared to values obtained for control groups. Hematological data showed that paraquat caused a decrease in hemoglobin concentration and total red blood cell number, while the total white blood cell number was significantly increased compared to values obtained for control animals.