Tissue binding of 1,2-dibromoethane in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).

Autoradiography at different levels of resolution was used to study the tissue-binding of 1,2-dibromo[14C]ethane (DBE) in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) in vivo (i.p. injection) and in vitro. The results show that DBE is metabolized to products which become bound to the tissues, preferentially in the liver and the kidney tubules. A distinct binding of radioactivity was also found in the adrenal zona reticularis. The binding of radioactivity in the surface epithelia of the respiratory and upper alimentary tract was not as high and striking as that previously observed in rodents. The results show that the sites of tissue-binding of DBE in the cynomolgus monkey correspond to the sites of tissue lesion observed in humans poisoned with DBE.