3,3',4,4'-tetrachloro[14C]biphenyl in pregnant mice: enrichment of phenol and methyl sulphone metabolites in late gestational fetuses.
The distribution of radioactivity after injection of 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloro[14C]biphenyl (14C-TCB) in pregnant mice was determined by autoradiography and computer-assisted densitometric analysis. TCB metabolites in fetal tissue were analysed by g.l.c. and g.l.c.-mass spectrometry and compared to the synthesized reference compounds 2-, 5- and 6-methoxy-3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl. The concentration of radioactivity was high in the uterine fluid, and in the fetuses in late gestation. Fetal radioactivity decreased after pretreatment with a high dose of unlabelled TCB. Radioactivity was reversibly bound to fetal tissues. A phenolic metabolite, 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloro-2-biphenylol, and a methylsulphonyl-tetrachlorobiphenyl were found in fetuses in late gestation. No unmetabolized TCB was detected in the fetuses.
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013450:Sulfones / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism
D010636:Phenols; D013450:Sulfones; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C028451:3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl