Rabbit hair and urine samplings
Urine and hair specimen collection was performed before the
first dose administration and at the end of each month of the treatment.
In order to assess the bioaccumulation of target metabolites,
hair specimens were collected from the back of each animal. The
same anatomical site was used for hair sampling each time. Hair
specimens were labeled and stored in paper envelopes in a dry
place, at room temperature until analysis. Moreover, 24 h urine
samples (approx. 20 mL) of each test animal were collected and
stored at 20 C until analysis.
The present study was approved by the Veterinary Administration
Office of Heraklion, Ministry of Agriculture and the Animal
Investigation Committee of the University of Crete and the University
Hospital and conformed to the National and European Union
directions for the care and treatment of laboratory animals.