DISTRIBUTION OF TRITIUM-LABELED T-2 TOXIN IN SWINE

Two weanling crossbred pigs were intubated with tritium-labeled 4²,15-diacetoxy-3±-hydroxy-83±-(3-methylbutyryloxy)-12, 13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene (T-2) toxin to determine the tissue distribution and the excretion pattern of T-2 and/or its metabolites. The percentage of administered radioactivity (18 h after dosing) in one animal intubated with 0.1 mg of [3H]T-2/kg body weight in 50% aqueous ethanol (0.75 mL) was 0.7% (muscle), 0.43% (liver), 0.08% (kidney), 0.06% (bile), 21.6% (urine), and 25.0% (feces). The calculated residue levels for T-2 and/or its metabolites based upon the specific radioactivity of the tissue were as follows: muscle, 3.1 ppb; fat, 0.49 ppb; liver, 13.8 ppb; and kidney, 15.9 ppb. The percentage of administered radioactivity in the other animal intubated with 0.4 mg of [3H]T-2/kg body weight (1.22 X 1010 dpm) was 0.7% (muscle), 0.29% (liver), 0.08% (kidney), 0.14% (bile), 17.6% (urine), and 0.84% (feces). The corresponding residue levels for T-2 toxin in the tissues of this animal were as follows: muscle, 11.5 ppb; liver, 37.7 ppb; and kidney, 61.4 ppb. Since these residue levels were low, it was impossible to chemically identify the metabolites present. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.