Metabolisn of trichloroethylene through cholecystohepatic circulation in dogs

Each of trichloroethlene (TRI) and its main metabolites, i.e., chloral hydrate (CH), free-trichloroethanol (F-TCE), conjugated-trichloroethanol (CONJ-TCE) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) was administered in the gallbladders of anesthetized dogs which the cystic ducts were ligated and the catheters were inserted into the bile ducts. Then, the changes of the concentrarions of the administered drugs and the metabolites of respective drug in blood, urine and bile were investigated for 2 hours. 1. Every drug administered was found in the blood and excreted into urine and bile. The absorption rates of TRI, CH and F-TCE from the gallbladder were about 60 to 70% 2 hours after the administration, and higher than those of CONJ-TCE and TCA. 2. TRI and its metabolites absorbed from the gallbladder were metabolized and the produced metabolites were excreted into urine and bile. 3. The bihaviour of CONJ-TCE absored from the gallbladder was observed to be different from those of the other drugs. CONJ-TCE as a metabolite of TRI absorbed from the gallbladder was similar in the behaviour. 4. It was presumed that F-TCE may be conjugated in the gallbladder.