Effect of polybrominated biphenyls on the development of hepatic excretory function.

Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) stimulate hepatic drug metabolism in adult and developing rats. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the influence of PBBs on the development of the liver as an organ for chemical excretion. Exposure of developing rats to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) by feeding 50 ppm of PBBs to pregnant or lactating mothers and rat weanlings did not produce overt toxicity when compared to controls over a 49-day postnatal period. However, prenatal and postnatal dietary exposure to PBBs resulted in elevated liver weight. In 15-day-old rats, increased liver weight after PBBs was correlated with enhanced ouabain transport from plasma into bile. Liver weight was also elevated in 21-, 35- and 49-day-old rats treated with PBBs, but this effect was not associated with stimulation of ouabain transport in these animals. Stimulation of ouabain transport after PBBs in 15-day-old rats was associated with increased hepatic uptake of ouabain. Stimulation in 15-day-old rats and not older rats may be attributed to the relative importance of uptake for ouabain transport in 15-day-old rats.