Abstract |
In the present study, the distribution, metabolism and reproductive toxicity of trichloroethylene (TCE) administered by the oral route to female rats were examined. The distribution study with 14C-TCE indicated that relatively high levels of radioactivity accumulated in the ovary, adrenal gland and uterus of both pregnant and nonpregnant female rats, while embryonic tissue did not appear to preferentially accumulate radioactivity relative to other maternal organs or maternal blood. GC analysis of tissues from adult females after 3 weeks of exposure indicated that TCE levels were uniformly high in the fat, adrenal gland and ovary, that the metabolite, trichloroethanol (TCOH) did not accumulate to any appreciable extent in reproductive or steroidhormone producing organs, while trichloroacetic acid (TCA) levels were high in the uterus relative to other organs known to be major sites of biotransformation. |