ACCUMULATION OF TRIBUTYLTIN (TBT) IN THE BLOOD OF FLOUNDER AND DAB INTRAPERITONEALLY ADMINISTERED WITH TBT

The present study was carried out to investigate the accumulation of T BT in the blood of cultured Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, and dab, Limanda yokohamae. TBT-CI was intraperitoneally administered to fish at a dose of 2.5 mg kg(-1) b.w. At 2, 4, 6 and 8 days after t he injection, the blood, liver, kidney, spleen and dorsal muscle were collected. The amounts of TBT within the tissues were determined by GC -FPD. High TBT concentrations were found in the serum of Japanese flou nder, levels which corresponded to 22 similar to 37-fold those found i n the muscle, and 7 similar to 12-fold those found in the ih,el. High TBT concentrations were also found in the serum of dab. The results of gel filtration of the serum showed that TBT Mas bound to an unknown s ubstance (mol. wt ca 50 000). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ail right s reserved.