Abstract

Benzene disposition and metabolism were examined as a function of age in male C57BL/6N mice aged 3 and 18 months. Mice received a single oral dose of either 10 or 200 mg/kg 14C-benzene (approximately 25 microCi/kg). Excretion of 14C-derived benzene radioactivity (RA) was monitored in urine, feces, and as exhaled 14CO2 from 0 to 72 hr, and as exhaled unmetabolized benzene from 0 to 6 hr. At 10 mg/kg 14C-benzene, urinary elimination was the major route of excretion in both 3- and 18-month mice. Urinary excretion of 14C-derived benzene RA was significantly decreased in 18- vs. 3-month mice at 4, 6, 24, and 48 hr, while fecal excretion was significantly increased at 72 hr. Elimination of 14C-benzene as 14CO2 and unmetabolized 14C-benzene was also increased in 18- vs. 3-month mice at this dose. Hydroquinone glucuronide (HQG), phenylsulfate (PS), and muconic acid (MUC) were the major urinary metabolites at 10 mg/kg 14C-benzene in both 3- and 18-month mice, representing approximately 40, 28, and 15% of an administered dose of 14C-benzene. Smaller amounts of phenyl glucuronide (4.0%), pre-phenyl mercapturic acid (1.2%), and catechol glucuronide (0.5%) were also detected. No significant differences were found with age in the percentage of an administered dose of benzene excreted as the various metabolites at 10 mg/kg. At 200 mg/kg 14C-benzene, the total percentage of 14C-derived benzene RA eliminated in urine within 72 hr was not significantly different with age, but elimination at early time points (4, 6, and 8 hr) was significantly decreased in 18- vs. 3-month mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)