Methylation of dimethyltin in mice and rats

Koichi Furuhashi, Masanori Ogawa, Yoshihiro Suzuki, Yoko Endo, Yangho Kim, Gaku Ichihara

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Organotins are widely used as stabilizers of polyvinyl chloride and as catalysts or biocides. It is well known that dimethyltin (DMT) is less neurotoxic than trimethyltin (TMT). A Korean worker who was exposed to DMT compounds showed neurological symptoms similar to those of TMT encephalopathy, in association with high levels of both DMT and TMT in the urine and blood. The case suggested the possibility of the methylation of DMT in humans. Here, we investigated whether TMT is detected in the urine of mice and rats exposed only to DMT dichloride (DMTC). Three Slc:ICR mice and three SIc: Wistar rats were placed in individual metabolic cages, and one day later, they were injected intraperitoneally with DMTC (10 mg/kg body weight (wt); 5.4 mgSn/kg body wt; 45.5 μmol/kg body wt) over 4 consecutive days. Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected every evening for 11 consecutive days starting at baseline (before treatment). Speciation analyses of methyl tin compounds in urine were performed using a combination of high performance liquid chromatograph- inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. High concentrations of DMT and time-dependent increase in TMT concentrations were found in both mice and rats during the 4-day treatment, and their concentrations decreased gradually after the cessation of treatment. The chemical compound of the detected peak was confirmed to be TMT by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Neither DMT nor TMT was detected in the samples collected at baseline. Our results indicate urinary excretion of TMT in mice and rats injected with DMTC, confirming the production of TMT in vivo, probably through methylation of DMT.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)467-471
Number of pages5
JournalChemical Research in Toxicology
Volume21
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 02-2008
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Toxicology

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