Application of gas chromatographic determination of organotin compounds to basic research on the metabolism of triphenyltin chloride in rats.

This paper describes the application of gas chromatographic determination of organotin compounds to basic research on the metabolism of triphenyltin chloride in rats. Phenyltin compounds were extracted (as chloride) from rat-liver homogenates and subcellular fractions with hydrochloric acid and n-hexane-benzene (3:2, containing 0.05% tropolone). These organotin compounds were pentylated with a Grignard reagent prior to capillary gas chromatography. The absolute detection limits were in the range of 3.6 to 4.4 pg as tin. The absolute recoveries of phenyltin compounds added to homogenized whole liver and each subcellular fraction sample ranged from 73.9 to 97.4%. The intracellular distribution of triphenyltin and its metabolites in the liver was observed for 72 h after a single oral dose of triphenyltin chloride was given to rats. The tri-, di-, and monophenyltin compounds in the fractions reached maximal amounts about 6, 48, and 72 h after administration, respectively. Also, the concentrations of monophenyltin compounds in the liver were typically lower than to those of di- and triphenyltin compounds. The highest contents of di- and triphenyltin compounds per protein were found in the microsomal fractions.