

The proportion of p,p'-DDT to p,p'-DDE in livers of sacrificed 
Bengalese finches was related to the length of storage in the refrigerator. 
This conversion of DDT to DDE occurred under anaerobic conditions at 37°C 
and at -11.5 to 14.5°C (728, 729). It was thought that this degradation 
was caused by bacteria. However, recent studies with avian frozen blood 
tissues indicated non-enzymatic degradation (394). DDD was formed 
anaerobically whereas DDE formed under aerobic conditions (204). 
In pigeons (Columba liva), feeding of DDT gave rise to DDE and DDD 
by separate pathways. Whereas feeding of DDE did not give rise to DDD, 
feeding of DDD did give rise to small residues of DDE. The DDD was rapidly 
metabolized exclusively to DDMU. Pigeons fed DDMU showed residues of this 
material and these residues declined rapidly. Gas-liquid chromatography 
revealed the presence of an unknown compound. After isolation by preparative 
scale gas-liquid chromatography, infra-red and mass spectroscopy showed the 
compound to be identical with 1,1-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane. This material 
could arise metabolically from DDMU or after prolonged exposure to light 
during and after extraction. Transformation by gut flora has been 
demonstrated and could also give rise to this ethane analog (1749, 
1763). 
DDT, DDD and DDE (all p,p'- )in peanut oil were separately injected 
into fertile leghorn eggs or fed in the diet to chicks hatched from untreated 
eggs. No significant differences in the pattern of metabolites between the 
two treatments were observed. DDT gave rise to o,p'-DDT, DDE, DDD (p,p'- 
and o,p'-), DDMU, DDMS, DDNU, DDOH, DDA, DDM, and DBP. p,p'-DDD gave rise 
to o,p'-DDD, DDMU, DDMS, DDNU, DDOH, DDA, DDM, and DBP. DBP was detected 
as a metabolite of DDE (1738). 
Studies with rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, showed that the liver 
converted DDT to DDE (1473). From bullhead fish, 1,1'-bis-p-chlorophenyl- 
2-chloroethylene was obtained (180). Most metabolism in fish resulted 
from the action of intestinal microflora which converted DDT to DDE and/or 
DDD (1473, 1647). In vitro studies with carp blood and DDT showed some 
conversion to DDD, DDE and possibly DDMU (1657). Atlantic salmon, Salmo 
salar, degraded DDT to DDE and DDD (1726, 1768, 1770); Salmo clarki, also(1769). 
Detoxification has long been considered a major factor in the defense 
of insects against the lethal action of DDT and this concept was strengthened 
by the isolation of DDT-dehydrochlorinase, a glutathione dependent enzyme 
(885, 886, 1014, 1359). In many insects this system catalyzed the degradation 
of p,p'-DDT, to p,p'-DDE or the degradation of p,p'-DDD to its corresponding 
ethylene derivative (4, 58, 59, 198, 463, 679, 880, 884, 1101, 1148, 1149, 
1150, 1151, 1152, 1154, 1354, 1355, 1356, 1358, 1360, 1386, 1614, 1655). 
o,p'-DDT was not degraded. 
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