EFFECT OF HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE ON BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF RATS ON A PROTEIN-DEFICIENT DIET

Male albino weanling rats were fed diets containing 5% (group I) and 21% (group II) protein as casein for 28 days. At the end of the dietary period Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) was administered daily for 30 days to investigate the effect of protein deficiency on the toxicity of HCH. The results indicated that rats fed a low protein diet and HCH had a higher mortality, lower rate of growth and increased liver weight. An increased glycogen and decreased glutathione level was also observed in their livers. A significant decrease in blood glucose, erythrocyte enzyme G6PD and LDH of animals exposed to low protein diet is suggestive of the disruption of the energy provision of the cell.