THE BASIS OF DDT TOLERANCE IN THE LABORATORY MOUSE

Abstract

DDT tolerance in the Macdonald strain of the laboratory mouse is shown to be related to lipid content. Relatively large amounts of sesame oil injected into DDT-treated mice, either with the DDT or up until the symptoms of poisoning appeared, protected the recipients from severe symptoms and death. DDT-tolerant mice excreted ¹⁴C-labelled DDT or its metabolites in the urine, at a significantly lower rate than the normal mice. DDT-susceptible mice excreted 8 to 10% of the injected dose of DDT within 12 days. DDT tolerance could not be related to the production of DDE or TDE.