[Experimental study of the heaptotoxic effect of toluol III. Quantitative morphological study]

Hepatotoxic effect of the analitically pure toluene used in the Chemical Factory "Tiszai" was investigated by the aid of quantitative morphological method on male rats of line CFY. Toluene was administered intraperitoneally and subcutaneously. It was established, that there exists a nearly lineal correlation between the logarithms of intraperitoneally administered doses of toluene, the number and area of mitochondria localized in the unite area of the hepatocyte, and between the increase of number of matrix-granules in the mitochondria. The average-area of the mitochondria remained unchanged. As an effect of large intraperitoneal doses of toluene increase of the density of nuclei and the nucleus-plasma proportion could be revealed. There exists a nearly lineal correlation between the logarithms of intraperitoneal and subcutaneous doses of toluene and the decrease of volume of the cell nuclei. Statistical curves of the nuclei-variation-study as an effect of large doses show two peaks. Authors stress the importance of quantitative morphological studies in the toxicology. Results of such investigations should be evaluated in connection with each other.