Effect of a Short Time Post Carbon Tetrachloride Treatment Interval on Rat Plasma Enzyme Levels and Percentage Mortality

The effect of a short time (3 hours) post carbon tetrachloride treatment interval on rat plasma enzyme levels and percentage mortality have been examined. Relative to their corresponding activities in the plasma of carbon tetrachloride-free rats the activities of plasma L-aspartate aminotransferase, L-alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase of carbon tetrachloride treated rats were statistically significantly (P<0.05) increased when the rats were sacrificed 3 hours post exposure. During this period no mortality occurred. These results indicate that plasma enzyme levels can still be used as indices of carbon tetrachloride-induced tissue damage within a short exposure time rather than a longer post-exposure interval, which carries the risk of an unacceptably high rate of mortality. @ JASEM