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DDT: the pathway in the body

DDT is part of the pathway “DDT und DDE”. This page shows the whole pathway; the station of DDT is highlighted.

Where this laboratory value sits: DDT in food — bound to dietary fat. DDT is a chlorinated insecticide. It reaches the body mainly with food, where it sits above all in the fatty fractions. Source 1

In brief

DDT is a chlorinated insecticide that dissolves in fat. In the body it is converted into DDE, gathers in adipose tissue and binds to sodium channels of nerve cells and to oestrogen and androgen receptors.

12 stations · 6 sources
ORYUptake and conversionSites of action in the celldietary fatsodiumwith the blood into the tissuesDDT in foodbound to dietary fatUptake in the gutwith the dietary fatStore in fat tissuereleased very slowlyConversion in the liverto DDE and DDDDDElong-lived conversion productDDA in urineformed via DDDDDT and DDE in cellsfat-soluble, cross membranesSodium channelin the nerve cell membraneSodium influxdelayed closingOestrogen receptorin the cell nucleusAndrogen receptorin the cell nucleusReading of geneshormone-dependent genes

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The pathway step by step

  1. DDT in food → Uptake in the gut · dietary fat Because DDT dissolves in fat, it is absorbed in the small intestine together with the dietary fat and enters the circulation via lymph and blood. Source 1
  2. Uptake in the gut → Store in fat tissue From the blood DDT passes into adipose tissue and gathers there. The body gives it up again only very slowly. Source 1, 2
  3. Store in fat tissue → Conversion in the liver In the liver DDT is converted along two routes: loss of hydrogen chloride gives DDE, loss of one chlorine atom gives DDD. Source 1
  4. Conversion in the liver → DDE DDE dissolves in fat even better than DDT and is barely converted further. It stays in adipose tissue for a long time and is the form usually measured in blood. Source 1, 2
  5. Conversion in the liver → DDA in urine Several steps convert DDD into the acid DDA. It is water-soluble and leaves the body with the urine. Source 1, 6
  6. DDT and DDE in cells → Sodium channel DDT binds to the voltage-gated sodium channel. The binding site lies between two segments of the channel protein; pyrethroids bind at the same site. Source 3
  7. Sodium channel → Sodium influx · sodium With DDT bound, the channel closes with a delay. Sodium therefore flows into the nerve cell for longer, and the excitation of the cell lasts longer. Source 3, 2
  8. DDT and DDE in cells → Oestrogen receptor o,p'-DDT binds to the oestrogen receptors alpha and beta. In laboratory assays it triggers the same reading of genes as oestradiol, but more weakly. Source 5
  9. DDT and DDE in cells → Androgen receptor p,p'-DDE binds to the androgen receptor without activating it. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone then find the binding site occupied. Source 4
  10. Oestrogen receptor → Reading of genes Both bindings act at the same point: the reading of hormone-dependent genes. At the androgen receptor it is inhibited, at the oestrogen receptor weakly triggered. Source 4, 5
  11. Androgen receptor → Reading of genes Both bindings act at the same point: the reading of hormone-dependent genes. At the androgen receptor it is inhibited, at the oestrogen receptor weakly triggered. Source 4, 5

Cofactors in this pathway

Sources

  1. Turusov V, Rakitsky V et al. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): ubiquity, persistence, and risks. Environ Health Perspect 2002 · PubMed 11836138
  2. Beard J. DDT and human health. Sci Total Environ 2006 · PubMed 15894351
  3. Zhorov BS, Dong K. Elucidation of pyrethroid and DDT receptor sites in the voltage-gated sodium channel. Neurotoxicology 2017 · PubMed 27567732
  4. Kelce WR, Stone CR et al. Persistent DDT metabolite p,p'-DDE is a potent androgen receptor antagonist. Nature 1995 · PubMed 7791873
  5. Kuiper GG, Lemmen JG et al. Interaction of estrogenic chemicals and phytoestrogens with estrogen receptor beta. Endocrinology 1998 · PubMed 9751507
  6. Roan C, Morgan D et al. Urinary excretion of DDA following ingestion of DDT and DDT metabolites in man. Arch Environ Health 1971 · PubMed 5100105

Whole pathway: DDT und DDE

Related pathways

As of 2026-09-18. Draft, written by Claude to schema v2; sources checked in PubMed; expert approval pending
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