[Effect of polychlorinated biphenyls in the rat: I. -- Relation tissue level dose (author's transl)].

Rats were fed with a diet containing Phenoclor DP6, a French commercial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture, for 30 days. Diet PCB levels were 10, 100, 500 and 1000 ppm (wet weight). At 500 ppm, a 50 per cent mortality was found after 8 days, while a 100 per cent mortality was noted after 6 days with 1000 ppm. Our principal findings include: loss of body weight (at major doses), central nervous system stimulation, inflammation of lungs and gastro-intestinal tractus, and fatty degeneration of the hepatic cells. Ingested PCB is found in all organs and tissues tested and was largely stored in liver and muscle. PCB levels in the major tissues are related to dietary doses.