Toxicity of hexachloronaphthalene (HxCN) and induction of CYP 1A in rats

The aim of the study was to investigate the toxicity of hexachloronaphthalene (HxCN) and its effect on cytochrome P-450 in rats and to make a comparison between HxCN and tetrachloronaphthalene (TeCN), an inactive congener. Our study provided evidence that the anorectic effect, with concurrent significant increase in relative liver mass was the most spectacular symptom of the toxic effect of hexachloronaphthalene in the rats after its single (250 mg/kg) and repeated (1 and 10 mg/kg) administration. Regardless of the kind of the experiment (acute or subacute toxicity), dose-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation in the liver was also observed, which may indicate that HxCN most probably generates oxidative stress in this organ. It was also observed that HxCN is a very strong inducer of cytochrome P-450, especially of CYP 1A, which is the most sensitive biomarker of exposure to this congener. In this study, LOAEL is 1 mg HxCN/kg b.w.