Tissue analysis of plasticizer in dogs.

Acute renal failure was produced in animals and analytical procedures for DEHP estimation in urine and tissues of dogs developed. The presence of DEHP in urine samples of control and sham operated dogs indicated that significant excretion of this plasticizer by kidney occurred. Delay in elevation of DEHP serum levels in nephrectomized dogs and similar concentrations of DEHP in 72 hr and 96 hr serum samples in all 3 groups indicate possible metabolism and/or uptake of DEHP by tissues. DEHP levels in brain, heart, and lung tissues of nephrectomized dogs were higher than those in control and sham operated dogs; however, the highest concentration of DEHP was found in lung regardless of grouping. Gas chromatographic spectra of kidney and liver homogenates showed several extraneous peaks with shorter retention times than DEHP, probably representing metabolites of DEHP. Identification and quantitation of DEHP metabolites in tissues are presently under way in our laboratory.