Toxicokinetics of model compounds

Experiments were performed to test the pharmacokinetic behavior of model compounds. To date, results are available with three model compounds: mercuric chloride, benzo(a)pyrene and azabenzo(a)pyrene, where a substituted N at the 10 position prevents the formation of epoxides. Mercuric chloride was chosen as an example of a potential inorganic environmental contaminant; the other two are model polycyclic hydrocarbons. Known amounts of the isotopically labeled marker compounds mixed with 50 μl of the complex mixtures were applied to the shaved skin of male BALB/c mice. The animals were placed in metabolism cages and urine and feces were collected separately over a 24 hour period. Organs were prepared for liquid scintillation counting (3H-labelled compounds) or counted directly in a well-type scintillation counter (203Hg). Results were calculated as percentages of applied dose