Tissue distribution and pharmacokinetics of 3H-butylated hydroxyanisole in female mice.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a commonly used food additive, is a phenolic antioxidant. While metabolism of BHA has been studied in dog, man, rabbit and rat, information on tissue distribution is limited to rat and dog. Time dependent distribution and elimination of 3H-BHA following a single oral dose of 50 mg/kg body weight in female Swiss-Webster mice were investigated. Animals were sacrificed at time intervals up to 168 h after dosing. Levels of 3H were determined by liquid scintillation counting in the following tissues: brain, blood, serum, fat, heart, kidney, liver, lung, skeletal muscle and spleen. In most tissues the decline of BHA (log) was nonlinear with respect to time; a biphasic, post-absorptive aspect was observed. The highest 3H activity was noted in kidney and liver 15 min after dosing. The lowest activity was in fat. In addition, a peak 3H activity was recorded at 3 and 10 h after dosing for the blood and brain, respectively. Distribution of the 3H-BHA in mouse organs is similar to that in rat.