METABOLISM OF ORGANOPHOSPHORUS INSECTICIDES: III. FATE OF THE METHYL GROUPS OF DIPTEREX IN VIVO

Abstract

Direct evidence for the hydrolysis of O-methyl ester linkage(s) of Dipterex in the rat has been obtained using Dipterex in which the two methyl groups are C14-labelled. Following a single injection (i.p.) of radio-Dipterex, about 60% of the C14activity was recovered, after 24 hours, in the expired air and in the urine. C14O2and C14-formate constituted about 50% of the recovered radioactivity. The contribution of P—OCH3cleavage to the detoxification of the insecticide has been discussed. A scheme for the fate of the methyl groups has been suggested.