Abstract |
Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models developed from gas uptake experiments have been used to estimate metabolic parameters for volatile organic compounds. Due to the potential application of PBPK models to estimate metabolic bioactivation constants in humans, it is important to understand the complex nature of these models and the resulting estimates. Adult male F344 rats (165-205 g) were individually exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) in gas uptake systems. Three rats at each concentration were exposed for 6 hr to initial concentrations of 25, 100, 250, and 1,000 ppm CCl4. Partition coefficient determinations were performed by the vial equilibration technique and used as model inputs. Results of the sensitivity analysis at the lowest concentration established the following model input hierarchy: blood to air partition > fat partition and fat volume fraction > slowly perfused partition, ventilation rate, cardiac output, fat blood flow percentage > liver blood flow percentage and slowly perfused blood flow percentage. In summary, the application of sensitivity analysis to PBPK modeling resulted in an increased understanding of factors governing the estimation of metabolic parameters. |