© 1987 Oxford University Press
research-article |
Comparative Metabolism and Excretion of Resorcinol in Male and female F344 Rats
Toxicology Research and Testing Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
Following oral administration, resorcinol was readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, rapidly metabolized, and excreted by male and female rats. In both sexes, most of the dose of resorcinol (>90%) was excreted in the urine within 24 hr after oral administration of 112 mg/kg, indicating little potential for bioaccumulation in animal tissues. Less than 3% of an oral dose was excreted in feces. An analysis of bile indicated that at least 50% of the dose excreted in bile undergoes enterohepatic circulation to be eventually excreted in urine. Little (<5%) of the parent com pound was excreted in urine; most of the dose was in the form of three major and one minor metabolite. The relative amounts of metabolites excreted changed only slightly with time and dose administered. Approximately 70% of the total radioactivity in the urine of both sexes was in the form of a glucuronide conjugate. Female rats excreted a greater portion of the dose as a sulfate conjugate than males. Males excreted more of a diconjugate containing both sulfate and glucuronide groups. Repeated exposure to up to five daily doses resulted in no apparent alteration of the pattern of resorcinol absorption, metabolism, and excretion observed after a single dose.