Temporal variations in chloroform-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Toxicology
• Chronobiology

Background:

• Biological rhythms influence drug metabolism and efficacy.
• Understanding temporal variations in chemical toxicity is crucial for occupational health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the time-dependent effects of chloroform (CHCl3) induced acute hepatotoxicity in male Sprague-Dawley rats.
• To determine if the timing of CHCl3 administration affects liver damage markers.

Main Methods:

• Rats received a single intraperitoneal dose of CHCl3 or saline at different times (09:00, 13:00, 17:00, 21:00, 03:00).
• Hepatotoxicity was assessed 4 hours post-injection using serum enzymes (SGPT, SGOT, LDH) and liver glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activity.
• The impact of 16-hour fasting prior to CHCl3 injection was also evaluated.

Main Results:

• CHCl3 administration at 21:00 h resulted in maximal increases in SGPT, SGOT, and LDH.
• G6Pase activity was significantly depressed when CHCl3 was administered at 03:00 h and 13:00 h.
• Fasting for 16 hours before 09:00 h CHCl3 injection substantially increased hepatotoxicity.

Conclusions:

• The time of day significantly modulates CHCl3 induced hepatotoxicity in rats, linked to biological rhythms.
• Findings suggest potential relevance for industrial workers exposed to CHCl3 at different times.
• Chronotoxicity of CHCl3 should be considered in risk assessment and management strategies.