DDT Movement from Adipocyte to Muscle Cell during Lipid Utilization

STORAGE of organochlorine pesticides such as 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2- bis -chlorophenyl-ethane (DDT) in adipocyte lipid of avian 1–4 and other species 5–9 suggests that this is an effective detoxifying mechanism for these lipophilic biocides. Adipose tissue storage, however, is non-permanent because the normally slow release of DDT and its metabolites into the circulating fluids is probably increased during periods of accelerated lipid mobilization induced by starvation or increased energy expenditure 6,10,11 . Data in the literature demonstrate that starvation results in higher blood levels of DDT 2,6,12 , changes in tissue concentrations 2,10,12,13 and increased excretion 2,6,14 . But neither the mobilization rate nor the fate of the mobilized DDT has been quantitatively defined in the existing literature.