OBJECTIVETo explore the absorption, distribution and excretion of 3-Chloro-1,2-propandiol (3-MCPD) in healthy male SD rats after oral administration.

METHODS3-MCPD was administrated with a single oral dosage of 75 mg/kg BW to each rat. Samples of blood, tissues (including liver, kidney, brain and testicle) and excreta were then collected, and analyzed by the GC-MS method to determine 3-MCPD concentrations. The reported value is the mean value of three rats.

RESULTSAt 2 h after the administration, 3-MCPD concentrations in blood, testicle and kidney were (67.46 +/- 7.72), (78.37 +/- 5.15) and (56.21 +/- 3.64) microg/g, respectively. At 24 h, however, the corresponding values changed to (1.07 +/- 0.97) microg/g, (49.43 +/- 28.18) microg/g and (11.41 +/- 2.55) microg/g. During the 24-hour period, 9.74 +/- 3.05% of the given parent compound was excreted in urine, whereas 0.56 +/- 0.22% and 0.28 +/- 0.03% were excreted in feces and bile, respectively, which implies that kidney is a major organ for excretion 3-MCPD.

CONCLUSIONS3-MCPD was quickly absorbed through the alimentary tract and quickly distributed into a number of tissues, and then accumulated in the target organs, especially in the testicle. The excretion of the parent compound was largely through the kidney. It was inferred that 3-MCPD was mainly metabolized in the liver.