TOXICOKINETICS OF PENTACHLOROANISOLE IN F344 RATS AND B6C3F1 MICE

1. Toxicokinetics of pentachloroanisole (PCA) were studied in F344 rat and B6C3F1 mouse of both sexes by gavage at doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg /kg and by i.v. at 10 mg/kg. 2. PCA was rapidly demethylated to pentac hlorophenol (PCP) in both rat and mouse and the resulting PCP plasma c oncentrations were much higher than that of parent PCA due to the much smaller apparent volume of distribution of PCP. 3. Peak plasma concen trations of PCA and PCP increased with dose in both rat and mouse. 4. Bioavailability of PCA was low in both rat and mouse and was sex indep endent. 5. The high plasma concentrations and relatively long biologic al half-life of PCP in both species after both i.v. and oral dosing wi th PCA indicate possible bioaccumulation of PCP upon multiple oral adm inistrations of PCA.