Excretion of aflatoxin B1 as a glutathione conjugate.

Intraperitoneal injection of 3H - GSH (15.4 mg, 0,5 microCi) 15 minutes before a similar i.p. treatment with Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) (2mg/kg) showed less than 40% of the radioactivity in the 24 h urine and 30-35% in the bile. Analysis of the urine and bile samples by TLC and separation with XAD-2, showed only traces of the AFB1 - GSH adduct present in the urine and 14% in the bile, AFB1 metabolites isolated from the urine of the 3H - GSH treated rats identical with those of rats treated with AFB1 only. While GSH Conjugate appears therefore to be a major component of biliary excretion of AFB1, it does not seem to be significant in the urinary excretion of the toxin.