The effect of benzene on serum hormones and the activity of some enzymes in different tissues of rats

The effects of a 100 mg.kg(-1) dose, of benzene, an occupational and environmental toxicant, were investigated on serum, estradiol and testosterone concentrations as well as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), and pyruvate kinase (PK) activities in the liver and kidney of rats after 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 72 hours. Benzene was given intraperitoneally to Rat rattus norvegicus and the control groups were injected with physiological saline. Liver tissue LDH, AST, ALT and kidney tissue LDH, ALP, AST, ALT activities were lower in the benzene treated group when compared to those in the control group (p<0.05). A tendency for an increase in the liver tissue ALP activity was observed, which was significant at 8 and 16 hours (p<0.05). There were significant increases in ALT in the liver and LDH, AST, and ALT enzyme activities in the kidney tissue at the beginning of the experiment in both groups and these activities were found to be nearly the same. Pyruvate kinase enzyme activities in rats given benzene were slightly increased in kidney tissues but lower in liver tissues. Differences between the groups tended to disappear towards the end of the experimental period. However, serum estradiol concentrations in the serum diverged significantly (p<0.05). Consequently, it was found that benzene administration led to some changes (increases then decreases) in LDH, ALP, ALT, AST, and PK activity and estradiol, testosterone concentrations in different tissues of rats. Possible causes of the increases and decreases in enzyme activities and hormone levels are discussed.