METABOLISM AND EMBRYOTOXICITY OF HEPTACHLOR IN THE ALBINO-RAT (RATTUS-NORVEGICUS)

Heptachlor fed to female albino rats at 120 mg/kg b. w. was metabolised in the body. The parent molecule and its four metabolites were detected in different tissues. GC and TLC analyses showed higher levels of toxic epoxide in the reproductive organs and the concentration of which increase further during pregnancy. Conversely, the concentrations of less toxic hydroxy metabolites were low which decreased further during pregnancy, indicating slow metabolic handling of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide. This could lead to the build up of toxic heptachlor and its immediate metabolite, heptachlor epoxide, causing embryotoxicity by altered steroidogenesis, essential for term pregnancy.