Binding of 14C-furazolidone metabolites to the muscular and hepatic proteins of trout

Abstract

A high level of 14C was found to bind irreversibly with the liver proteins of rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) exposed to 135 mg/kg bodyweight of 14C-labelled furazolidone (14C-FZ) in fish feed daily for 10 days. After the cessation of 14C-FZ treatment, hepatic protein-bound 14C in trout stayed high for at least 30 days. The chemical identity of protein-bound 14C remained to be elucidated. However, a part of the protein-bound 14C in the liver and muscle could be released as 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone by acid hydrolysis. The formation of protein-bound 14C in the liver was investigated further with trout dosed intravenously with different 14C-FZ doses at 10 degrees C or with 5 mg/kg FZ at different water temperatures. 14C binding to the liver proteins was found to increase with increasing FZ dose or water temperature. Results of these studies indicate that protein-bound 14C in the muscle and liver of trout is related to the formation of reactive intermediates from FZ. However, additional studies on the identities of the protein-bound FZ residues are required before they can serve as useful biomarkers to monitor FZ exposure in farm fish.