Serum Enzyme and Histopathologic Changes in Rats after Gold Exposures

Summary Exposure of 2 groups of dry rats 16 hours to 1.7 and −5°C and a third group of wet rats 5 hours to 1.7°C on 2 successive days significantly increased levels of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, serum aldolase and blood urea nitrogen. The blood urea nitrogen in all 3 groups and serum enzyme values in the 1st group were normal in 24 hours. The serum enzyme values in the 2nd and 3rd groups were normal in 3 and 6 days respectively. Mean body temperatures in the 3 groups at the end of the cold exposures were 38.2, 36.7 and 33°C respectively. The transient rise in serum enzymes coincided with a transient decrease in mean hematocrit and in glycogen in liver and muscle and lipid in the adrenal cortex, and leukocytosis. Many rats also showed transient fatty changes in the liver and, less frequently, in the kidney and heart