Absorption and metabolism of [14C]allethrin by the adult housefly, Musca domestica L.

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Abstract
Allethrin labeled with C14 was incubated with enzyme extracts or homogenates or was injected into adult houseflies. After a "metabolism" period any unchanged allethrin and its metabolites were extracted, resolved by paper chromatography and determined radiometrically. A considerable fraction of the allethrin injected into female houseflies was metabolized in a period of 24 hours. The proportion of the metabolism occurring in the first 5 hours of this period was 80%. The net weights of allethrin metabolized by a male were small and of doubtful significance. Metabolism of allethrin by female thoracic homogenates could not be detected. A sublethal exposure to methyl bromide inhibited the metabolism of allethrin. There was some evidence that benzaldehyde, a lipase inhibitor, reduced the metabolism of allethrin in vivo at the higher concentrations used. Absorption of topically applied (C14) allethrin was rapid during the first 5-10 hours after application. The fraction of the dose absorbed in 24 hours approached unity at lower doses but fell off significantly at higher doses.