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Toluene concentrations in various tissues of rats after inhalation and oral administration

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Abstract

The uptake, distribution, and elimination of 3H-toluene in various tissues of rats were studied after inhalation or after gastric intubation.

The maximum radioactivity was measured 2–3 h after gastric intubation in tissues, except in white adipose tissue, where the peak radioactivity was reached at 5 h.

After inhalation exposure, the uptake to various tissues was very rapid. The maximum radioactivity in most tissues was reached in 15–30 min. The accumulation was slowest in white adipose tissue, where it took 1–2 h.

The radioactivity in tissues decreased after inhalation exposure more rapidly than after gastric intubation. Brown adipose tissue and white adipose tissue were different from other tissues in their ability to retain toluene. Twenty-four hours after exposures, only 1% or less of the initial radioactivity was found in tissues other than white adipose tissue, in which the corresponding value was 3.5–5%.

The results show a very rapid absorption and distribution of toluene after inhalation and a retention of radioactivity in white adipose tissue. After oral ingestion the distribution showed a similar but much slower pattern.

Zusammenfassung

Nach Inhalation und nach oraler Gabe wurden Aufnahme, Verteilung und Ausscheidung von 3H-Toluol in verschiedenen Geweben der Ratte untersucht.

Bei oraler Gabe (mittels Schlundsonde) wurde das Maximum an Radioaktivität im weißen Fettgewebe nach 5 Std erreicht, während es in allen anderen untersuchten Organen bereits nach 2–3 Std auftrat. Nach Inhalation wurde 3H-Toluol wesentlich schneller aufgenommen. Die höchste Radioaktivität wurde hierbei im weißen Fett nach 1–2 Std und in den meisten anderen Geweben nach 15–30 min gemessen. Ebenso war die Abnahme der Radioaktivität nach Inhalation schneller als nach oraler Gabe, wobei sich auch in diesem Fall das braune und das weiße Fettgewebe von anderen Organen unterschieden. Vierundzwanzig Stunden nach Applikation enthielt das Fett noch 3,5–5% der initialen Radioaktivität, während in allen anderen Geweben nur noch 1% oder weniger gemessen wurden.

Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigen, daß Toluol nach Inhalation sehr viel rascher absorbiert und wieder ausgeschieden wird, als nach oraler Aufnahme, während das Verteilungsmuster nach beiden Applikationsarten sehr ähnlich ist.

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Pyykkö, K., Tähti, H. & Vapaatalo, H. Toluene concentrations in various tissues of rats after inhalation and oral administration. Arch. Toxicol. 38, 169–176 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293651

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293651

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