Liver changes under combined effect of working environmental factors.

Liver changes after separate and combined action of vibration (whole body, 100 Hz, 0.1 mm amplitude) and other factors: noise (white noise 105 dB/A), heat (35 degrees C, humidity 45--55% and air velocity 0.2--0.3 ms-1) and lead (lead acetate, 20 mg/kg) were studied in white rats. The exposure lasted for 2 h daily during 10 days (lead was daily applied per os in a water solution). After the treatment in liver homogenates the activity of SucDH, LDH, and ATP-ase, as well as the quantity of soluble proteins (SP) and -SH gr were determined. In fresh frozen liver slices the activity of SucDH, LDH, and ATP-ase were investigated. Liver samples were studied by light and electro-microscopy. The results show that vibration alone did not produce marked changes, but when the other factors acted simultaneously, more expressed alterations in the liver were found. The most pronounced changes were obtained after vibration and lead effect. The histological, histochemical, and electron-microscopic findings support the biochemical data about certain disturbances in the energy supply and utilization in the liver tissue.