US EPA

3858974 

Journal Article 

Hepatic Metabolism of Perfluorinated Carboxylic Acids: A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Investigation 

Reo, NV 

1990 

GRA and I 

15 

12 

Annual rept. 15 Feb-14 Dec 90. esearch project employs nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to investigate the metabolic aspects of the toxicity associated perfluorinated carboxylic acids. Fluorine-19 NMR has been used to monitor the metabolic rate of perfluoro-n-octanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro-n-decanoic acid (PFDA) in the rat. Spectra obtained at various times following the administration of PFOA and PFDA depict the presence of the parent compounds in samples of bile, serum, urine, and liver in vivo. Urine spectra also indicate the presence of a possible metabolite which has not been identified at this time. Carbon-13 NMR is providing information regarding the effects of PFOA and PFDA on hepatic carbohydrate metabolism. Preliminary data indicate that hepatic glycogenesis is severely inhibited in rats at 3 days post treatment with PFDA. Plasma glucose and hepatic glucose appear to behave similarly to control animals during the first three days post treatment with PFDA, but data obtained at days 6 and 7 indicate that hepatic glucose utilization may be slowed. These data are preliminary and experiments are currently in progress to further characterize the perfluorocarbon-induced dysfunctions of liver metabolism. 

Liver; Metabolism; Biosynthesis; Blood plasma; Carbohydrate metabolism; Carboxylic acids; Control; Fluorination; Glucose; Glycogen; In vivo analysis; Laboratory animals; Metabolites; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Sampling; Spectra; Spectroscopy; Toxicity; Utilization