Ultrastructure of granulosa lutein cells from rats fed hexachlorobenzene.

Corpora lutea from Sprague-Dawley rats that were orally administered 0.0 (control), 1.0, 10.0, and 100.0 mg/kg hexachlorobenzene (HCB) for 21 days were analyzed by electron microscopy. Granulosa lutein cells (GLC) from animals of the 10.0 mg group showed differences from the cells of animals that served as the controls. Golgi complexes and smooth endoplasmic reticulum appeared more conspicuous, possibly due to dilation resulting from hyperactivity. Free polysomes seemed more prominent in the cells of the 10.0 mg group. The GLC architecture from animals of the 1.0 and 100.0 mg groups was similar to that of the corresponding cells in the control group. Since smooth endoplasmic reticulum is involved in the synthesis of steroid hormones, and that free polysomes are engaged in synthesis of cytoplasmic proteins, it is suggested that HCB at a dose of 10.0 mg/kg given for 21 days may alter the synthetic activity of the GLC of the rat.