1983 Volume 29 Issue 5 Pages 303-311
The cytotoxicity and metabolism of four butyltin compounds were examined on isolated viable rat hepatocytes. Of the compounds tested, tributyltin exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity and was metabolized with the fastest rate by rat hepatocytes. These actions of tributyltin would be due to the high affinity for rat hepatocyte. The formation of dibutyltin, monobutyltin and inorganic tin as metabolites of tributyltin was observed. However, in the case of tetrabutyltin, detectable metabolite was only monobutyltin. Cytochrome P-450 associated with the metabolism of butyltin compounds was induced by phenobarbital, but not by 3-methylcholanthrene. No metabolism of tributyltin was detected in isolated viable rat kidney cells. Therefore, it would be suggested that the contribution of liver was much larger than that of kidney on the metabolism of butyltin compounds in vivo.
