[Tetrachloroethylene: effect of low concentrations of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) on the mouse. II. Study of tetrachloroethylene in various organs and demonstration of histological changes in the examined organs].

Perchlorethylene in subacute amounts in form of contaminated drinking-water was given to a group of NMRI-mice (group A = 0,05 mg PER/kg BW/d and group B = 0,1 mg PER/kg BW/d) over a period of seven weeks. The histologic changes of various organs and the perchlorethylene-residues in the examined organs have been determined. We only could establish the light-microscopic perceivable histologic changes in the spleen. Thus the pulpa cords were rich in erythrocytes and the area of the red pulpa contained plenty of blood-formation-centers with megakaryocytes. In the spleens of group B a siderin-storage in the red pulpa in macrophages could be established. These results are indicative for an increased hemolysis. In all of the examined organs, the heaviest accumulation of perchlorethylene we could be established in the spleen, whereby the concentration in the spleen amounted to several times as much as the residue-examinations of the other organs. In the liver for instance an insignificant amount of PER was stored. The erythrocytes and the fragments of them, that have been changed by the storage of PER are being decomposed in the spleen, and perchlorethylene reaches the spleen via the erythrocytes.