Whole-body autoradiography after systemic and topical administration of methyl acrylate in the guinea pig.

Whole-body autoradiography was performed in the guinea pig with methyl (2,3-14C)-acrylate. Radioactive material quickly disappeared from the body after oral and, somewhat slower, after i.p. administration for the greater part. After administration in a closed cup on the skin a slow penetration in the dermis occurred preceded by the toxic effect, mainly a strong edema. In the first 16 h metabolism was primarily restricted to the skin, internal organs showed a slow rise in radioactivity. A large part of the labeled material was retained in the dermis. The detoxification was screened by estimating the urinary thioether content and respiratory carbon dioxide. This showed that in addition to oxidation to carbon dioxide the binding to SH-groups was the principal way of metabolism.