Immunohistochemical localization of paraquat in skin and eye of rat.

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to observe the localization of paraquat in the skin and eyes of rats. Paraquat poisoned rats were killed 3 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 days, 7 days and 10 days after intravenous administration of paraquat. In skin, paraquat was localized in the ducts of sweat glands and sebaceous glands between 3 and 10 days after paraquat injection. In eyes, weak positive findings were observed in nerve fibers of retina between 3 and 10 days after the injection. In cornea, paraquat was localized in epithelial cells at the first 3 h and between 3 and 10 days after paraquat administration. Since skin occupies a vast area of the body in animals, as an organ, it seems to be an important storage pool for the redistribution of paraquat.