OBJECTIVETo study skin sensitization as well as liver and kidney impairment in guinea pigs treated with trichloroethylene (TCE).

METHODSGuinea pig maximization test (GPMT) was applied in this study, guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups, namely negative control, positive control and TCE treatment. Animals of 3 groups were administrated with olive oil, 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), and TCE, respectively, by intradermal injection. The animal skin was observed and blood was collected after various treatment, the liver function tests were conducted, including detection of activities of ALT, AST, LDH and levels of creatinine, uric acid, and urea with automatic biochemical analyzer.

RESULTSObvious skin impairment was observed in the groups of positive control and TCE treatment, the skin impairment included erythema and edema, the sensitization rate was 100% in positive control and 83.3% in TCE treatment group. Additionally, the activities of ALT, AST and LDH increased significantly in the groups of positive control and TCE treatment when compared with the negative control.

CONCLUSIONSTrichloroethylene is one of the strong hypersensitizing substances, it could induce skin allergic reaction and liver impairment in guinea pigs.