Transferring and distributing profiles of p,p'-(DDT) in egg-forming tissues and eggs of laying hens following a single oral administration.

Laying hens were administered orally with a single dose of p,p'-(DDT) (1 mg/kg bodyweight). The concentrations (microg/g) of DDT or its metabolites, p,p'-(DDE) and p,p'-(DDD), in the main tissues involved in egg formation (blood, liver, ovary, and oviducts) and egg yolk, collected 1 day after DDT dosing, were determined by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The limits of detection were 0.04 microg/g for DDT, 0.07 microg/g for DDE and 0.06 microg/g for DDD. In extractable fats from the above tissues and egg yolk, DDT and DDE were transferred/distributed throughout the tissues and egg yolk. DDD was detected only in the liver. The findings indicate that DDT is metabolized instantaneously to DDE/ DDD in the hen's body and they are transferred rapidly into the egg-forming tissues and egg yolk. Among the four tissues and yolk fats examined, the DDT levels were high in the ovary, oviduct and egg yolk; the DDE levels were high in the liver, ovary and oviduct and lowest in the yolk (P < 0.01).