Abstract
The metabolism and excretion of [ring-U-[14]C]DDT, [ring-U-[14]C]DDD, [ring-U-14 C]DDE and [ring-U-[14]C]DDMU in male rats and male Japanese quail were investigated following intraperitoneal administration of these compounds. The radioactivity excreted daily was monitored and the following estimations were made of the time taken to excrete half of the radioactive dose; 12.1 days and 47.7 days for [14 C]DDT-dosed rats and quail, days and 21.3 days for [14 C]DDD-dosed rats and quail, 23.7 days and 128.9 days for [[14]C]DDE-dosed rats and quail, 6.4 days and 4.3 days for [[14]C]DDMU-dosed rats and quail respectively. More of the dose was excreted as unchanged compound by the quail except when [[14]C]DDMU was administered. [[14]C]DDA, free or conjugated, was the major metabolite excreted by rats after dosing with each of the test compounds, with DDT and DBMU giving rise to the most [[14]C]DDA. In the quail, DDD resulted in greatest DDA production but only a very little DDA was excreted after DDMU administration. [[14]C] DDOH was detected as a metabolite of both [[14]C]DDT and [[14]C]DDMU in rats but only of [[14]C]DDMU in quail. DBP was tentatively identified in animal excreta in every dose group except the DDT-dosed quail. [[14]C]DDD and [[14]C]DDE were metabolites of [[14]C]DDT in both rats and quail and [14 C]DDE was also a metabolite of [[14]C]DDD in both species. Two [[14]C] hydroxylated derivatives were also detected; HO-DDE from DDE in rats and HO-DDMU from DDMU in quail. The major metabolite of DDMU in quail was not conclusively identified. Kovel metabolic pathways for the metabolism of DDT in rats and quail are proposed. The rat may convert DDT to DDA by at least two routes only one of which includes DDD. DDD and DDE are both converted to DDA but the pathway does not include DDMU. DDMU can be metabolised to DDOH and DDA. DBP is probably produced directly from DDT, DDD, DDE and DDMU. In the quail similar routes appear to operate except that DDT is probably metabolised to DDA via DDD, while DDMU is mainly metabolised to DDOH and DBP cannot be produced from DDT.