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Metabolism of C14-Labeled Hemel in Male House Flies123

1968; Oxford University Press; Volume: 61; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/jee/61.5.1357

1938-291X

Shen Chin Chang, Albert B. DeMilo, Charles W. Woods, Alexej B. Bořkovec,

Melamine detection and toxicity

The chemosterilant hemel is metabolized by male Musca domestica L. to lower methylmelamines and to other, possibly acyclic, products. The methylmelamines isolated from treated flies and from their excreta were identified as: pentamethylmelamine, N2, N2, N4, N6-tetramethylmelamine, N2, N4, N6-trimethylmelamine, and N2, N2, N4-trimethylmela. mine. Mono- and dimethylmelamines were not detected and unchanged hemel was found only in the flies. In 24 hours, the treated flies converted about 11% of the methyl carbons of hemel to respiratory CO2. Hemel uniformly labeled with C14 in the methyl groups was synthesized and used in the initial experiments, but the identity of the methylmelamine metabolites was confirmed by isolating them and comparing them with synthetic reference compounds. Also, the sterilizing activity of all trio, tetra, and pentamethylmelamines was determined. The most active methyl melamine, N2, N2, N4, N4-tetramethylmelamine, was not found in the treated flies or in their excreta.