Identification of Urinary Metabolites of 2, 4-Dinitrotoluene (2, 4-DNT) in Rats

Abstract

Nine metabolites of 2, 4-dinitrotoluene (2, 4-DNT) in rat urine were detected by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) after repeated oral administration to male Wistar rats. These metabolites, 2-amino-4-nitrotoluene (2A4NT, M-I), 4-amino-2-nitrotoluene (4A2NT, M-II), 2, 4-diaminotoluene (2, 4-DAT, M-III), 2, 4-dinitrobenzyl alcohol (2, 4-DNB, M-IV), 2-amino-4-nitrobenzyl alcohol (2A4NB, M-V), 4-amino-2-nitrobenzyl alcohol (4A2NB, M-VI), 2-nitro-4-acetylaminotoluene (2N4AAT, M-VII), 2-amino-4-acetylaminotoluene (2A4AAT, M-VIII) and 2-amino-4-acetylaminobenzoic acid (2A4AAB, M-IX), were identified by comparison of ultraviolet (UV) and mass spectral data with those of authentic samples. The probable metabolism of 2, 4-DNT in rats is discussed on the basis of these results.