Disposition and metabolism of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

The disposition and metabolism of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) was investigated in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in order to better understand the metabolic and physiological factors that modulate the fate of this extremely toxic compound in rainbow trout compared to other species. The fish were dosed orally with [3H]TCDF (1 microgram/kg); fish were terminated at 1-19 days for the determination of whole body half-life or at 0.3-28 days for determination of tissue distribution. Unassimilated TCDF (51.5% of the dose) was eliminated with a half-life of 0.84 days. The assimilated body burden of TCDF equivalents decreased with a half-life of 14.8 days (determined between 3 and 19 days). Trout muscle showed a relatively high capacity to accumulate and retain (unmetabolized) TCDF, accounting, at 3 days, for 32% of the body burden of TCDF equivalents (half-life in muscle, 15.2 days). Trout liver, on the other hand, showed a relatively low capacity to accumulate and metabolize TCDF. At 3 days, the concentrations of TCDF equivalents in liver and bile were, respectively, 0.37 ng/g liver (0.88% of the body burden) and 4.8 ng/ml bile. The data suggest that the relatively high affinity of lipid-rich trout muscle for TCDF limits the ability of the liver to accumulate and metabolize TCDF. The major TCDF metabolites found in trout liver and bile were, respectively, 4-OH-TCDF and TCDF-4-O-glucuronide.