Tissue localization of DDT and two PCB isomers (octa- and tetrachlorobiphenyl) in laying quails

Abstract

Whole-body autoradiography of DDT-¹⁴G, 2,2′,4,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl-¹⁴G and 2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,6′-octachlorobiphenyl-¹⁴C in laying quails indicated a strong deposition of radioactivity in the yolk of the growing follicles and the egg, confirming this to be a significant excretion route of lipophilic environmental pollutants in laying birds. A specific uptake of DDT and octachlorobiphenyl, but not of tetrachloro-biphenyl, was observed in the cortical cords of the adrenals. The octachlorobiphenyl was concentrated also in the ovarian stroma. Both DDT and the tetrachlorobiphenyl were excreted in the bile juice to the small intestine. No such excretion of octachlorobiphenyl was observed, indicating its rate of metabolization to be low. All compounds were accumulated and stored in the body fat. A previously described specific accumulation of 2,2′,4,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl in the respiratory tract of mice was not observed in the quail.