AN EXPERIMENTAL EXAMINATION OF EXTRA-HEPATIC METABOLISM OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE IN DOGS

To investigate the extra-hepatic organs metabolism of trichloroethylene, the extra-hepatic circulation in dogs was established by operating on the portal vein-right femoral vein bypass and other locations. These dogs were exposed for one hour to trichloroethylene at concentrations of 700 ppm. Metabolite (trichloroethanol (F-TCE), trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and total trichloroethanol (T-TCE)) changes in serum and urine were measured from the beginning of exposure until one hour after termination, and compared with previous data as control. The following results were obtained. 1) This operation method gave a very slight invasion on dogs. About two hours after the operation, no abnormal findings were observed clinically or physiologically. This method was considered to be one of the best for study of the metabolism of chemical substances in the extrahepatic organs of dogs. 2) The produced ratios of F-TCE, TCA and T-TCE in extrahepatic organs were about 60, 10 and 30% exposure to trichloroethylene at 700 ppm, respectively.