The metabolic fate and effects of 2-Bromophenol in male Sprague-Dawley rats

1. The metabolic fate and urinary excretion of 2-bromophenol, a phenolic metabolite of bromobenzene, was investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats following single intraperitoneal doses at either 0, 100, or 200 mg/kg. 2. Urine was collected for seven days and samples analysed using H-1 NMR spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma (ICP)MS, and UPLC-MS. 3. H-1 NMR spectroscopy of the urine samples showed that, at these doses, 2-bromophenol had little effect on endogenous metabolite profiles, supporting histopathology and clinical chemistry data, which showed no changes associated with the administration of 2-bromophenol in this study. 4. The use of ICP-MS provided a means for the selective detection and quantification of bromine-containing species and showed that between 15 and 30% of the dose was excreted via the urine over 7 days of the study for both the 100 and 200 mg doses, respectively. 5. The bulk of the excretion of Br-containing material had occurred by 8 h post administration. UPLC-MS of urine revealed a number of metabolites of 2-bromophenol, with 2-bromophenol glucuronide and 2-bromophenol sulphate identified as the major species. A number of minor hydroxylated metabolites were also detected as their glucuronide, sulphate, or O-methyl conjugates. There was no evidence for the production of reactive metabolites.