Temporal influence of experimental exposure of wistar rats to hexachlorobenzene on the morphology and some enzyme activities of intestinal mucosae

The intestinal reactivity to the oral administration to rats of 16 mg of Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) kg−1 b.w. (1.6% of LD50) for 30 days was explored in the beginning and at the end of the rest light phase of animals to check whether the presence of food in the intestine could lessen the impact of this pesticide. The treatment caused a mucosa layer hypertrophy and consequently a severe reduction of the intestinal lumen. The morphometric measurements presented a positive correlation with the values of the mucosa weight. The specific activities of alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, sucrase, maltase and lactase were measured and used to estimate the functional state of the organ. The observed effects could reflect an inflammatory process without significant impact on the absorptive function of the organ. And, the influence of the HCB-dosing time on the reactivity of the intestine was not confirmed and appeared not to be related to the level of filling of the intestinal lumen with alimentary bolus.