Some hepatotoxic actions of hexachloroethane and its metabolites in sheep.

1. Pentachloroethane and tetrachloroethylene were major metabolites of hexachloroethane in sheep.2. Concentrations of hexachloroethane, pentachloroethane and tetrachloroethylene were determined by gas-liquid chromatography in blood, bile, faeces, urine and tissues after oral administration of hexachloroethane emulsions to sheep.3. Increased blood concentrations of sorbitol dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and ornithine carbamoyl transferase were found to follow oral administration of hexachloroethane or pentachloroethane.4. The rate of bromsulphthalein transfer from liver cells to bile was found to decrease after oral administration of hexachloroethane.