Pathology of the mononuclear cell leukemia of Fischer rats. III. Clinical chemistry.

Serum biochemical analyses were done on F344 rats in the early and late stages of mononuclear cell leukemia. There were marked increases in serum bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase. Increases in these parameters generally were more severe in the late stages of leukemia. Both direct and indirect-reacting bilirubin were increased with the unconjugated form predominating early and the conjugated form predominating late in the course of the disease. Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme determination correlated with histological examination indicated that liver damage was responsible for the observed changes. Urinalysis revealed marked hemoglobinuria, bilirubinuria and increased urine urobilinogen. Serum protein electrophoresis revealed marked reductions in the alpha globulin fractions.