Differences in the metabolism and disposition of inhaled (3H)benzene by F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0041-008X(88)90343-2· OSTI ID:6922262

Sabourin, P J; Bechtold, W E; Birnbaum, L S; Lucier, G; Henderson, R F

Benzene is a potent hematotoxin and has been shown to cause leukemia in man. Chronic toxicity studies indicate that B6C3F1 mice are more susceptible than F334/N rats to benzene toxicity. The purpose of the studies presented in this paper was to determine if there were metabolic differences between F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice which might be responsible for this increased susceptibility. Metabolites of benzene in blood, liver, lung, and bone marrow were measured during and following a 6-hr 50 ppm exposure to benzene vapor. Hydroquinone glucuronide, hydroquinone, and muconic acid, which reflect pathways leading to potential toxic metabolites of benzene, were present in much greater concentrations in the mouse than in rat tissues. Phenylsulfate, a detoxified metabolite, and an unknown water-soluble metabolite were present in approximately equal concentrations in these two species. These results indicate that the proportion of benzene metabolized via pathways leading to the formation of potentially toxic metabolites as opposed to detoxification pathways was much higher in B6C3F1 mice than in F344 rats, which may explain the higher susceptibility of mice to benzene-induced hematotoxicity and carcinogenicity.

• Research Organization: Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6922262
• Journal Information: Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.; (United States), Vol. 94:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BENZENE
METABOLISM
TOXICITY
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
BONE MARROW
GENETIC VARIABILITY
INHALATION
LIVER
METABOLITES
MICE
RATS
SORBIC ACID
SULFATES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
GLANDS
HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM
HYDROCARBONS
INTAKE
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RODENTS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550501 - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques