PCB 105-induced ultrastructural alterations in the rat liver: A stereological study

Liver alterations were stereologically determined in five groups, each of 10 male and female Sprague–Dawley weanling rats fed PCB 105 (2,3,3′,4,4′-pentachlorobiphenyl) for 13 weeks at concentrations of 0.05, 0.5, 5, and 50?ppm mixed with corn oil. Animals from two groups receiving the oil in diets served as controls for each gender. A significant increase in mean volume fraction (VF) of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) profiles was estimated in hepatocytes of female rats in 0.5, 5, and 50?ppm groups. A significant decrease in VF of mitochondria in female rats at 50?ppm was detected. In addition, a decrease in VF of lipid droplets was measured in female rats at 0.5, 5, and 50?ppm groups. No difference was found in VF of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) cisternae, and peroxisome profiles at any concentration of the PCB in either male or female animals as compared to baseline values from controls. A significant elevation of baseline VF for RER in female rats was detected in comparison with males. In the present study, no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) for PCB 105 was estimated at <0.5?ppm for hepatocyte alterations in female Sprague–Dawley rats.