Distribution and metabolism of 3H-labeled leukotriene C3 in the mouse.

The distribution of [5,6,8,9,11,12-3H6]leukotriene C3 in mice was determined by whole body autoradiography of sagittal sections. Tritium was rapidly eliminated from the circulation by uptake in liver and excretion in bile as well as by renal uptake and excretion in urine. Chromatographic analyses of tritium in tissues and body fluids indicated that leukotrienes C3 and D3 constituted significant parts of the radioactivity in liver, bile, and small intestine 20 min after intravenous injection, whereas kidney contained leukotriene E3 and unidentified metabolites. Lung, pleural fluid, spleen, salivary glands, and connective tissue showed higher concentrations of tritium than blood. The radioactivity in lung consisted predominantly of leukotriene E3 with smaller amounts of leukotrienes C3 and D3.