FATE OF THIANTHRENE IN RAT

1. Radiolabelled thianthrene was administered by gavage (200 mg/kg bod y weight) to the adult female Wistar rat following an overnight fast. 2. Faeces was the major route of excretion of radioactivity (62 %) wit h substantial amounts still being voided during the third day (17 %). Urinary elimination (26 %) peaked during the second and third days and a small amount of radioactivity (7 %) remained within the carcass aft er 4 days. Distribution studies showed that the majority of the compou nd remained within the gastrointestinal tract. 3. Metabolism was limit ed to ring hydroxylation with subsequent conjugate formation. Oxidatio n of the sulphur to form the monosulphoxide and disulphoxide derivativ es also occurred. No evidence for cleavage of the ring structures was observed.