Circadian variations in trichloroethylene toxicity under a 12:12 hr light-dark cycle and their alterations under constant darkness in rats.

In order to investigate the circadian variations in acute toxicity of trichloroethylene (TRI), TRI (1.2 g/kg weight) or saline was injected intraperitoneally in a total of 88 male Wistar rats at four circadian stages (03.00, 09.00, 15.00, and 21.00:hr.min) under two different lighting regimens of a 12:12 hr light-dark cycle (LD; light from 06.00 to 18.00) and of constant darkness (DD). Circadian variations in TRI toxicity were confirmed in both LD and DD. The toxicity of TRI evaluated by the increase in glutamic-pyruvate transaminase activity (GPT) was greatest when injected at 09.00 in LD while at 21.00 in DD. The increases in blood urea nitrogen, serum total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations reached peaks when injected at 09.00 in LD and 03.00 in DD. The circadian variations in serum trichloroethanol concentration were very similar to those in GPT in both LD and DD, showing a significant correlation (p less than 0.05). The present study revealed that circadian variations in TRI toxicity existed in LD and that these variations persisted in a free-running condition. The peak phase of TRI toxicity was located in a trough phase (09.00) in LD and in a peak phase (21.00 or 03.00) in DD of temperature rhythm. Thus, the phase relationship changed in DD, showing a desynchronization between TRI toxicity rhythm and temperature rhythm, which is an unusual phenomenon. This means that an unexpected potentiation of TRI toxicity during active phase which is not a critical phase in a well-synchronized state could occur in a free-running condition.