Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Excretion and tissue disposition of dichloroacetonitrile in rats and mice

Journal Article · · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8669215· OSTI ID:6583337

The excretion and tissue distribution of (1-/sup 14/C)dichloroacetonitrile and (2-/sup 14/C)dichloroacetonitrile were studied in male Fischer 344 rats and male B6C3F1 mice. Three dose levels of dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) (0.2, 2, or 15 mg/kg) were administered to rats and two dose levels of DCAN (2 or 15 mg/kg) to mice. Daily excreta including exhaled volatiles and radiolabeled carbon dioxide (/sup 14/CO/sub 2/) were analyzed for radiolabeled carbon (/sup 14/C) until greater than 70% of the radioactivity was excreted. At that time the animals were sacrificed and tissues were collected. Tissues and excreta were analyzed for /sup 14/C by combustion and liquid scintillation counting. Rats administered (1-/sup 14/C)DCAN excreted 62 to 73% of the /sup 14/C in 6 days, with 42 to 45% in urine, 14 to 20% in feces, and 3 to 8% as CO/sub 2/. Rats administered (2-/sup 14/C)DCAN excreted 82 to 86% of the /sup 14/C in 48 hr, with 35 to 40% in urine, 33 to 34% as CO/sub 2/, and 10 to 13% in feces. Mice administered (1-/sup 14/C)DCAN excreted 83 to 85% of the /sup 14/C in 24 hr, with 64 to 70% in urine, 9 to 13% in feces, and 5 to 6% as CO/sub 2/. Mice administered (2-/sup 14/C)DCAN excreted 84 to 88% of the /sup 14/C in 24 hr with 42 to 43% in urine, 8 to 11% in feces, and 31 to 37% as CO/sub 2/. Liver tissues retained the most /sup 14/C in all studies except the study of (1-/sup 14/C)DCAN in rats, where blood contained the most /sup 14/C. These results indicate that DCAN was absorbed rapidly after oral administration in water. The differences in the route of excretion of (1-/sup 14/C)DCAN compared to (2-/sup 14/C)DCAN indicated that the molecule was being cleaved in the body and metabolized by different mechanisms.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Arizona, Tucson
OSTI ID:
6583337
Journal Information:
Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States); ISSN EVHPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English