Influence of DDT and PCBs in rabbits and goats as related to nucleic acid, protein and lipid metabolism.

Rabbits were administered DDT (10 mgQ/kg) and rabbits and goats were administered pure PCB compounds or PCB mixtures (25 mg/kg for rabbits and 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg for goats). All rabbits were also injected with ovalbumin and goats with Salmonella enteritidis-O antigen. Animals were sacrificed on day 21 when maximum antibody titer was obtained. Rabbits treated with 20 mg/kg DDT showed significantly reduced weight gain, feed consumption, weights of lung, liver and spleen, antiovalbumin synthesis in lung and spleen and maximum serum antibody titer. In addition, in the liver, protein, DNA and RNA contents and aminoacyl t-RNA activity were reduced. A decrease in serum protein was reflected in a decrease in albumin and gamma- and beta-globulin. Pure PCBs or PCB mixtures did not affect body weight, feed consumption or organ weights of rabbits. Protein and/or antiovalbumin synthesis increased in kidney, spleen and lung in rabbits after treatment with Aroclor 1242 or Aroclor 1254. PCB compounds decreased body weights but did not affect organ weights of goats except for a liver weight increase at 20 mg/kg for 2,4-DCBP, Aroclor 1268 and PCT. Aroclors 1242, 1254 and 1268 significantly decreased anti-Salmonella enteritidis synthesis in lymph node, spleen and bone marrow in goats at 20 mg/kg. However, at 5 mg/kg, a significant increase in antibody synthesis was observed. Ultrastructural evaluation of PCB-treated rabbits revealed little or no pathological change at these dose levels.