[Effect of polychlorinated biphenyls in the rat: II.--Preliminary report on metabolic alterations (author's transl)].

Rats were fed with a diet containing 10 and 100 ppm (wet weight) of Phenoclor DPR for 4 weeks in order to evaluate the toxicity of a French PCB mixture. The influence of PCB was studied by determining the liver weights, the hepatic and muscular proteins, glycogen and humidity content as well as hematocrite, glucose, proteins and lipids in the plasma, and the lipidic contents of the liver and the carcass. There was a significant increase in both liver to body weight ratios and liver lipid and protein content. A large increase in plasma proteins and lipids was observed at 100 ppm. Liver glycogen content and blood glucose were slightly modified by the PCB intoxication. Muscular parameters remain-ded stable. A consistent effect on liver microsomal proteins was noted for all doses studied. At the same diet levels, Phenoclor DP6 determines more métabolic alterations than Aroclor 1260 or 1268.