Male guinea-pigs weighing 400-600 g, 8 months old, were given
metribuzin directly into the gastric lumen over a period of 30 days (20 animals) or 90 days (20 animals) 6 times a week. In the liver of the poisoned animals, the
glycogen level and the AspAT and AlAT activities, while in the serum the total
protein and the fractions
albumin, alpha 1-globulin and
gamma-globulin significantly decreased; serum
glucose and the serum fractions alpha 2-globulin and
beta-globulin, each showed an increase. The
glycogen level in the liver, total
protein,
glucose as well as the alpha 1 and alpha 2
globulin fractions in the serum showed not appreciable difference between 30 and 90 days of intoxication. After 90 days of
metribuzin treatment AspAT and AlAT dropped in the liver and rose in the serum, in comparison to the 30-day values. As to the parameters of
glycoprotein metabolism, the intoxicated animals showed a significant decrease and increase in concentration of
hexosamines and
sialic acids in the liver and serum, respectively.
Metribuzin intoxication also cause a significant decrease in activity of
glucosamine phosphate isomerase and significant increase in activity of
glycosidases in the liver. The results suggest that
metribuzin disturbs the metabolism of
carbohydrates,
proteins and
glycoproteins in the guinea-pig liver.