Metabolism of 1-14C-methyl linoleate hydroperoxide in the rabbit

The metabolism of 1-¹⁴C-methyl linoleate hydroperoxide (1-¹⁴C-MLHP) by the rabbit was investigated. Administration of 1.1–1.9 mg of 1-¹⁴C-MLHP by ear vein injection proved lethal to four of the nine experimental animals. After 2 hr the lungs and liver contained 3.3% and 7.2%, respectively, of the dose. This radioactivity was found to be associated primarily with intact 1-¹⁴C-MLHP. The triglycerides from these tissues also contained¹⁴C-trienoic and¹⁴C-dienoic fatty acids. Of the dose, 68% was recovered as¹⁴CO₂ in 2 hr compared to 39% after 1-¹⁴C-methyl linoleate injection. The triglycerides from kidney adipose tissue contained a small amount of¹⁴C-hydroxy fatty acid, providing confirmation of previous evidence for the presence of a fatty acid hydroperoxide reductase in animal tissues.