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Spectrophotometric determination of pyrrole-like substances in urine of rat and man: An assay for the evaluation of 2,5-hexanedione formed fromn-hexane

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Abstract

Male Wistar rats exposed to atmosphericn-hexane excreted in their urine substances which gave rise to absorption spectra like those of pyrroles after the reaction with Ehrlich's reagent. A simple spectrophometric assay was developed to determine these “pyrrole-like substances” in urine. Their excretion kinetics were evaluated by exposing rats for 8 h to atmosphericn-hexane concentrations between 50 and 3000 ppm. The dose-response curve revealed saturation kinetics according to Michaelis-Menten, Vmax being 1.12 [ΔE 526ml urine/8 hn-hexane exposure] and “Km”, the atmosphericn-hexane concentration at Vmax/2, being 250 ppm. The excretion of pyrrolelike substances closely correlated with that of 2,5-hexanedione measured by Fedtke and Bolt (1987). Pyrrole-like substances were also found in the urine of a male volunteer. When exposing the person for 3 h to atmosphericn-hexane at a concentration of 146 ppm (equivalent to 55 ppm/8 h) the excreted amount was twice the background value. Due to the sensitivity of this assay it is possible to determine pyrrole-like substances in urine according to the present German MAK or US TLV conditions forn-hexane (50 ppm/8 h).

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Kessler, W., Heilmaier, H., Kreuzer, P. et al. Spectrophotometric determination of pyrrole-like substances in urine of rat and man: An assay for the evaluation of 2,5-hexanedione formed fromn-hexane. Arch Toxicol 64, 242–246 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010731

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010731

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