Comparison of brain discrete area distributions of chlordecone and mirex in the mouse

Discrete area distributions of chlordecone or mirex in the brain at different times after a single oral administration of the compounds, 50 mg/kg, were investigated. Whole brain and plasma levels of these compounds also were compared. With the same dose of chlordecone or mirex administered to mice, both brain and plasma levels of chlordecone were significantly higher than those of mirex. Chlordecone appeared to distribute to specific discrete areas in the brain--the striatum and medulla/pons areas having higher chlordecone levels and retaining chlordecone longer. Mirex showed less specific distribution in discrete areas. Therefore, it appears that these structurally related analogs exhibited distribution and pharmacokinetic differences.