Metabolism of Arylacetic Acids: 2. The Fate of [14C]Hydratropic Acid and its Variation with Species

1. (±)-[methyl-¹⁴C]-Hydratropic acid was administered to man, rhesus monkey, cat, rabbit and fruit bat.

2. All species excreted 60-100% oi administered ¹⁴C in the urine in 24?h, and unchanged hydratropic acid accounted for 0-17% of the dose.

3. In man, the urinary ¹⁴C consisted of a very small quantity (1%) of unchanged hydratropic acid with the remainder as hydratropylglucuronide.

4. Hydratropylglucuronide was the major urinary excretion product in the 4 animal species, while the glycine conjugate was present in the urine of cat and rat. Additionally, cats excreted the taurine conjugate of hydratropic acid.

5. Bile-duct cannulated rats excreted 20-30% of an injected dose of [¹⁴C] hydratropic acid in the bile in 3?h mainly as hydratropylglucuronide.     

Metabolism of arylacetic acids. 3. The metabolic fate of diphenylacetic acid and its variation with species and dose.

1. [carboxy-14C]Diphenylacetic acid has been administered to seven primate species including man, and four other mammals and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of its elimination determined. 2. In most species, 50-100 percent of the administered 14C was excreted in the urine in 48 h; 2-30 percent of the dose was recovered unchanged in the 24 h urine. 3. In all species the only urinary metabolite detected by radiochromatogram scanning was diphenylacetylglucuronide (10-70 percent of dose). Reverse isotope dilution additionally revealed the formation of trace amounts (less than 1 percent of dose) of the glycine conjugate by four species and of the taurine conjugate by the cat. No evidence was found for the formation of a glutamine conjugate. 4. The influence of dose on the pattern of metabolism and excretion of diphenylacetic acid has been studied in the rat. In this species diphenylacetic acid undergoes extensive elimination and enterohepatic circulation.     

Metabolism of arylacetic acids. 1. The fate of 1-naphthylacetic acid and its variation with species and dose.

1. [Carboxy-14C]-1-Naphthylacetic acid has been administered to man, 6 primate species and 4 other mammalian species and the urinary metabolites examined by radiochromatogram scanning and reverse isotope dilution. Animals all received a dose of 100 mg/kg and man received 5 mg, orally. 2. Most species excreted at least 60% of the 14C in the urine in 48 h. Unchanged acid was a minor (0-17% dose) excretion product in all species except the cynomolgus monkey (35%). 3. In man, in 24 h 95% of 14C was excreted as 1-naphthylacetyl-glucuronide and 5% as 1-naphthylacetyltaurine. 4. 1-Naphthylacetylglucuronide was the major excretion product in all species except the bushbaby (21% dose) and the cat, which did not form this conjugate. 5. 1-Naphthylacetylglutamine was formed only by the cynomolgus, squirrel and capuchin monkeys and marmoset, and in no case accounted for more than 3% dose. 6. 1-Naphthylacetylglycine was found in the urines of 4 primate and 3 non-primate species, and was the major metabolite in the squirrel monkey, bushbaby and cat. 7. 1-Naphthylacetyltaurine was excreted by all species except the rabbit and the fruit bat. It was a major excretion product in the squirrel and capuchin monkeys, the marmoset and the cat. 8. The influence of dose on the pattern of metabolism and excretion of 1-naphthylacetic acid has been investigated in the rat.     

The Conjugation of Indolylacetic Acid in Man,Monkeys and other Species

Indol-3-yl[2-¹⁴C]acetic acid has been administered to 18 species of animals including man, and the urinary metabolites examined by radiochromatogram scanning. Man received 500 mg orally and the other animals 100 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection.

In most species, 50–90% of the administered ¹⁴C was excreted in the urine in 48 h. 14–76% of the indolylacetic acid was excreted unchanged in 48 h.

In man, the ¹⁴C excreted in 48 h consisted of about 50% unchanged indolylacetic acid, 30% indolylacetylglucuronide and 10–20% indolylacetyl-glutamine. No glycine conjugate was detected.

The glutamine conjugate was excreted only by the Old World (3 species) and New World (3 species) monkeys and man.

The glycine conjugate was excreted by all species (13) except man, Old World monkeys and the pigeon. The three species of New World monkeys formed both the glutamine and glycine conjugates.

Taurine conjugation of indolylacetic acid was studied in the green monkey, the squirrel monkey, the capuchin monkey, the ferret and pigeon. Indolylacetyltaurine was a substantial metabolite in these species and in the pigeon it was the only conjugate of indolylacetic acid found.

Synthesis of indolylacetylglutamine and indolylacetyltaurine is described.     

Metabolism of Arylacetic Acids: 1. The Fate of 1-Naphthylacetic Acid and its Variation with Species and Dose

1. [carboxy-¹⁴C]-1-Naphthylacetic acid has been administered to man, 6 primate species and 4 other mammalian species and the urinary metabolites examined by radiochromatogram scanning and reverse isotope dilution. Animals all received a dose of 100?mg/kg and man received 5 mg, orally.

2. Most species excreted at least 60% of the ¹⁴C dose in the urine in 48 h. Unchanged acid was a minor (0-17% dose) excretion product in all species except the cynomolgus monkey (35%).

3. In man, in 24?h 95% of ¹⁴C was excreted as 1 -naphthylacetyl-glucuronide and 5% as 1-naphthylacetyltaurine.

4. 1-Naphthylacetylglucuronide was the major excretion product in all species except the bushbaby (21% dose) and the cat, which did not form this conjugate.

5. 1-Naphthylacetylglutamine was formed only by the cynomolgus, squirrel and capuchin monkeys and marmoset, and in no case accounted for more than 3% dose.

6. 1-Naphthylacetylglycine was found in the urines of 4 primate and 3 non-primate species, and was the major metabolite in the squirrel monkey, bushbaby and cat.

7. 1-Naphthylacetyltaurine was excreted by all species except the rabbit and the fruit bat. It was a major excretion product in the squirrel and capuchin monkeys, the marmoset and the cat.

8. The influence of dose on the pattern of metabolism and excretion of 1-naphthylacetic acid has been investigated in the rat.     

Studies on the metabolism of arylacetic acids. 6. Comparative metabolic conjugation of 1- and 2-naphthylacetic acids in the guinea pig, mouse, hamster and gerbil

The patterns of metabolic conjugation of the isomeric 1- and 2-naphthylacetic acids have been compared in guinea pig, mouse, hamster and gerbil. Equimolar doses of [carboxy-14C]1- and 2-naphthylacetic acids were given to these species by i.p. injection, their urine collected and urinary metabolites examined by t.l.c. before and after treatment with beta-glucuronidase or mild alkali. 2. Urinary excretion of 14C following administration of 14C-1-naphthylacetic acid was 76-93% of dose in 72 h, the bulk being eliminated in 24 h. Urinary metabolites comprised 1-naphthylacetic-glycine and -glucuronide together with the unchanged acid. 3. Following administration of 14C-2-naphthylacetic acid, some 68-94% of the 14C dose was recovered in the urine in 72 h, with the majority in the 0-24 h urine. All four species excreted 2-naphthylacetyl-glucuronide and -glycine: additionally, 2-naphthylacetyl-taurine was excreted by mouse, gerbil and hamster and the glutamine conjugate was also present in hamster urine.     

Species differences in the metabolic conjugation of clofibric acid and clofibrate in laboratory animals and man

The urinary metabolites of single doses of clofibric acid (p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid), and its ethyl ester, clofibrate, have been investigated in rat, guinea pig, rabbit, dog, cat, ferret, and human volunteers. Human volunteers, rodents, and rabbits given clofibric acid excreted 60-90% of the 14C dose in the urine in 24 hr, and the only metabolite found was the ester glucuronide of clofibric acid, together with small amounts of the unchanged acid. In the dog, cat, and ferret, however, urinary excretion of 14C was much slower (23-39% of dose in 24 hr) and these species all formed the taurine conjugate of clofibric acid, excreted together with the unchanged acid. The ester glucuronide was found in the urine of dog and ferret but not cat. The fate of clofibrate, the ethyl ester of clofibric acid, in rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and man was similar to that of the parent acid. The characterization of the glucuronic acid and taurine conjugates of clofibric acid is described.     

Absorption, metabolism and excretion of safrole in the rat and man.

The metabolic disposition of different doses of [14C] safrole were studied in rat and man. In both species, small amounts of orally administered safrole were absorbed rapidly and then excreted almost entirely within 24 h in the urine. In the rat, when the dose was raised from 0.6 to 750 mg/kg, a marked decrease in the rate of elimination occurred as only 25% of the dose was excreted in the urine in 24 h. Furthermore, at the high dose level, plasma and tissue concentrations of both unchanged safrole and its metabolites remained elevated for 48 h probably indicating impairment of the degradation/excretion pathways. The main urinary metabolite in both species was 1,2-dihydroxy-4-allylbenzene which was excreted in a conjugated form. Small amounts of eugenol or its isomer 1-methoxy-2-hydroxy-4-allylbenzene were also detected in rat and man. 1'-Hydroxysafrole, a proximate carcinogen of safrole, and 3'-hydroxyisosafrole were detected as conjugates in the urine of the rat. However, in these investigations we were unable to demonstrate the presence of the latter metabolites in man.     

Studies on the metabolism of arylacetic acids. 6. Comparative metabolic conjugation of 1- and 2-naphthylacetic acids in the guinea pig,mouse, hamster and gerbil

1. The patterns of metabolic conjugation of the isomeric 1 - and 2-naphthylacetic acids have been compared in guinea pig, mouse, hamster and gerbil. Equimolar doses of [carboxy-¹⁴C]1- and 2-naphthylacetic acids were given to these species by i.p. injection, their urine collected and urinary metabolites examined by t.l.c. before and after treatment with β-glucuronidase or mild alkali.

2. Urinary excretion of ¹⁴C following administration of ¹⁴C-1-naphthylacetic acid was 76–93% of dose in 72 h, the bulk being eliminated in 24 h. Urinary metabolites comprised 1 -naphthylacetic-glycine and -glucuronide together with the unchanged acid.

3. Following administration of ¹⁴C-2-naphthylacetic acid, some 68–94% of the ¹⁴C dose was recovered in the urine in 72 h, with the majority in the 0–24h urine. All four species excreted 2-naphthylacetyl-glucuronide and -glycine: additionally, 2-naphthylacetyl-taurine was excreted by mouse, gerbil and hamster and the glutamine conjugate was also present in hamster urine.     

Metabolic disposition of trimetrexate, a nonclassical dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, in rat and dog

The metabolic disposition of trimetrexate, a nonclassical inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase, was characterized in the rat. After iv administration of 1.2 mg/kg [14C]trimetrexate (as the glucuronate), recovery of total radioactivity in urine and feces through 144 hr was greater than 96% of dose. Trimetrexate was extensively metabolized, with only 13% of the dose excreted unchanged in urine and bile. Profiling of biliary and urinary radioactivity showed three components and unchanged drug accounted for the majority of excreted radioactivity (75% of dose). Tandem mass spectral analysis of one urinary component suggested trimetrexate had undergone N-dealkylation and oxidation to 2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-quinazolinecarboxylic acid. Structural assignment for this metabolite was confirmed by comparison to authentic reference material. Mass spectral analysis of a second component gave a quasimolecular ion (MH)+ at m/z 532 with a key fragment ion at m/z 356 (MH-176)+, characteristic of a glucuronide conjugate. The proton NMR spectrum of this component was consistent with expectations for a glucuronide conjugate of 4'-O-desmethyl trimetrexate. Possible formation of a sulfate conjugate was explored by co-administration of unlabeled trimetrexate with [35S]sulfate to rats. A 35S-labeled component was excreted in urine, which co-eluted with the third major urinary 14C-labeled component observed in the first experiment. Mass spectrum of this component was consistent with the structure of trimetrexate-4'-O-desmethyl sulfate. In dogs, the disposition of trimetrexate was examined using stable isotope-labeled material. The dose was 10 mg/kg administered iv as a 1:1 mixture of 13C2, 15N-labeled and unlabeled trimetrexate glucuronate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Meeting of the Drug Metabolism Group: Significance of Drug Metabolism and Disposition in Patient Therapy

1. ¹⁴C-Labelled benzoic acid, salicylic acid and 2-naphthylacetic acid were administered orally to horses, and urinary metabolites investigated by chromatographic and mass spectral techniques.

2. [¹⁴C] Benzoic acid (5?mg/kg) was eliminated rapidly in the urine, and quantitatively recovered in 24?h. The major urinary metabolite was hippuric acid (95% of dose) with much smaller amounts of benzoic acid, benzoyl glucuronide and 3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionic acid. Administration of [ring-D₅]benzoic acid together with [¹⁴C]benzoic acid to a pony permitted the mass spectral determination of metabolites of the exogenous benzoic acid metabolites in the presence of the same endogenous compounds.

3. [¹⁴C]Salicylic acid (35?mg/kg) was eliminated rapidly in the urine, 98% of the ¹⁴C dose being excreted in 24?h. The major excretion product was unchanged salicylate (94% of dose). Gentisic acid, salicyluric acid and the ester and ether glucuronides of salicylic acid were very minor metabolites.

4. 2-Naphthyl[¹⁴C]acetic acid (2?mg/kg) was excreted very slowly in the urine, with 53 and 77% of the ¹⁴C dose being recovered in six days. 2-Naphthylacetylglycine was the major metabolite (26 and 38% dose) and in addition, the glucuronic acid and taurine conjugates were excreted together with unchanged 2-naphthylacetic acid.

5. This study has shown that the horse can utilize glycine, taurine and glucuronic acid for conjugation of xenobiotic carboxylic acids, and that the relative extents of these pathways are governed by the structure of the carboxylic acid.     

Disposition and biotransformation of the acetylenic retinoid tazarotene in humans

Oral tazarotene, an acetylenic retinoid, is in clinical development for the treatment of psoriasis. The disposition and biotransformation of tazarotene were investigated in six healthy male volunteers, following a single oral administration of a 6 mg (100 microCi) dose of [14C]tazarotene, in a gelatin capsule. Blood levels of radioactivity peaked 2 h postdose and then rapidly declined. Total recovery of radioactivity was 89.2+/-8.0% of the administered dose, with 26.1+/-4.2% in urine and 63.0+/-7.0% in feces, within 7 days of dosing. Only tazarotenic acid, the principle active metabolite formed via esterase hydrolysis of tazarotene, was detected in blood. One major urinary oxidative metabolite, tazarotenic acid sulfoxide, accounted for 19.2+/-3.0% of the dose. The majority of radioactivity recovered in the feces was attributed to tazarotenic acid representing 46.9+/-9.9% of the dose and only 5.82+/-3.84% of dose was excreted as unchanged tazarotene. Thus following oral administration, tazarotene was rapidly absorbed and underwent extensive hydrolysis to tazarotenic acid, the major circulating species in the blood that was then excreted unchanged in feces. A smaller fraction of tazarotenic acid was further metabolized to an inactive sulfoxide that was excreted in the urine.     

The Fate of [14C]Saccharin in Man,Rat and Rabbit and of 2-Sulphamoyl[14C]benzoic Acid in the Rat

1. [¹⁴C]Saccharin administered orally was excreted entirely unchanged by rats on a normal diet and by rats on a 1% and 5% saccharin diet for up to 12 months. Some 90% dose was excreted in 24?h, about 70–80% in urine and 10–20% in faeces. No metabolite was detected in the excreta by chromatography or reverse isotope dilution. No ¹⁴CO₂ was found in the expired air and no ¹⁴CO₃^2- or 2-sulphamoylbenzoic acid in the urine.

2. When [¹⁴C]saccharin was injected into bile-duct cannulated rats kept on a normal diet or on a 1% saccharin diet for 19 and 23 months, 0.1–0.3% dose appeared in the bile in 3?h and no more at 24?h after dosing. Most of the saccharin was excreted in the urine, 0.6% appearing in the faeces.

3. [¹⁴C]Saccharin given orally to rabbits kept on untreated water and on water containing 1% saccharin for 6 months was excreted unchanged, 60–80% in 24?h, with 70% in urine and 3–11% in faeces.

4. [3-¹⁴C]Saccharin taken orally was excreted unchanged mainly in urine (85–92% in 24?h) by 3 adult humans both before and after taking 1 g of saccharin daily for 21 days. No metabolite of saccharin was found.

5. When [¹⁴C]saccharin was administered orally to pregnant rats on the 21st day of gestation only at most 0.6% of dose entered the foetuses. The ¹⁴C cleared more slowly from the urinary bladder than from other maternal or foetal tissues.

6. Saccharin was not metabolized in vitro by liver microsomal preparations or faecal homogenates from rats kept on a normal diet or on a 1% saccharin diet for two years.

7. 2-Sulphamoyl[¹⁴C]benzoic acid given orally to rats was excreted unchanged more slowly than saccharin. It was not cyclized to saccharin in vivo.     

The fate of saccharin impurities: the excretion and metabolism of [3-14C]Benz[d]-isothiazoline-1,1-dioxide (BIT) in man and rat

1. The 14C label of [3-14C]benz[d]isothiazoline-1,1-dioxide (BIT) (40 mg/kg) was rapidly eliminated (97% dose in 24 h), largely in the urine (92% dose in 24 h), after oral administration to rats. Larger doses (400 mg/kg) were eliminated more slowly after oral or parenteral administration (45--60% within 24 h) mostly in the urine (42--53%). Little 14C (2--3% dose) was present in the faeces after intraperitoneal (400 mg/kg) or low oral (40 mg/kg) doses, but the presence of larger amounts (12% dose) after larger oral doses (400 mg/kg) indicated incomplete absorption. 2. Metabolites identified in the urine of rats were saccharin (about 30% of urinary 14C), 2-sulphamoylbenzoic acid (about 35% urinary 14C) and 2-sulphamoylbenzyl alcohol (15% urinary 14C) in addition to unchanged compound (5--10% urinary 14C). The urine also contained a polar, labile metabolite that gave BIT on acid hydrolysis. The pattern of metabolism was not significantly affected by dose or route of administration. 3. In man, urine was the major route of elimination of 14C (93% dose) after administration of 14C-BIT (0.5 mg/kg). Negligible 14C was recovered in the faeces (less than 1% dose). Excretion was rapid (59% dose in 6 h; 80% dose in 12 h) and little 14C was eliminated on the second (3%) or subsequent days after dosing. 4. Identified metabolites in man included saccharin (about 50% of urinary 14C), 2-sulphamoylbenzoic acid (7% urinary 14C) and 2-sulphamoylbenzyl alcohol (8% urinary 14C unconjugated and 40% conjugated) with negligible unchanged compound. Only traces of the polar labile metabolite were detected. 5. the possible significance of metabolic interrelationships of toluene-2-sulphonamide and BIT to studies on the metabolism of saccharin are discussed.     

The metabolic fate of tizoprolique acid in baboons

1. After oral administration of the anti-lipolytic drug [¹⁴C]tizoprolique acid (2-propyl-5-carboxy1[4-¹⁴C]thiazole), to baboons (60?mg/kg), the radioactivity was well absorbed and rapidly excreted. During 6 and 24?h respectively, 60±25% (S.D.) and 90±2% were excreted in the urine.

2. Plasmaconcn. of ¹⁴C reached a max. (182±65, range 85–221 ±g equiv./ml) at 1–1.5?h after an oral dose, and declined rapidly with an apparent half-life of about 0.5?h. A mean of 77±7% of the ¹⁴C in peak plasma samples was bound to plasma proteins, somewhat less than that of [¹⁴C]tizoprolique acid (84±5%).

3. Tissue concn. of ¹⁴C were highest in an animal killed at 0.5?h after an oral dose, but were lower than those in plasma in all tissues examined except the kidneys.

4. The major metabolite of tizoprolique acid was its glycine conjugate, which accounted for about 80% dose excreted in the 24h urine. About 2% dose was excreted as unchanged drug. About 70% and 20% respectively of plasma ¹⁴C were associated with the unchanged drug and its glycine conjugate during the period 15?min to 4h after dosing.     

The fate of saccharin impurities. The excretion and metabolism of [14C]toluene-4-sulphonamide and 4-sulphamoyl[14C]benzoic acid in the rat

1. 4-Sulphamoyl[carboxy-14C]benzoic acid was rapidly eliminateda after oral administration to rats (94% dose in 24 h). After 6 days most of the 14C (73-83% dose) was recovered in the urine with significant amounts (18-32% dose) in the faeces due to incomplete absorption. 2. The 14C in the urine and faeces was unchanged 4-sulphamoylbenzoic acid. No 14CO2 was detected in the expired air. 3. After oral administration of [methyl-14C]toluene-4-sulphonamide to rats the label was rapidly eliminated largely in the urine (66-89% dose) with little in the faeces (2-8% dose). The 14C in the faeces was 4-sulphamoylbenzoic acid, which probably originated in the tissues since the gut flora was unable to effect this biotransformation. 4. The urine of rats given [14C]toluene-4-sulphonamide contained 4-sulphamoylbenzoic acid as the major metabolite (93% of the urinary 14C) together with small amounts of unchanged compound (1.5-2.3% of urinary 14C), 4-sulphamoylbenzyl alcohol (2.0-3.9%), 4-sulphamoylbenzaldehyde (0-1.5%) and at higher doses N-acetyltoluene-4-sulphonamide (2.1-2.3%).     

Disposition of the selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe in healthy male subjects.

Ezetimibe [SCH 58235; 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3(R)-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3(S)-hydroxypropyl]-4(S)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-azetidinone], a selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor, is being developed for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia. The absorption, metabolism, and excretion of ezetimibe were characterized in eight healthy male volunteers in this single-center, single-dose, open-label study. Subjects received a single oral 20-mg dose of [14C]ezetimibe (approximately 100 microCi) with 200 ml of noncarbonated water after a 10-h fast. Concentrations of radioactivity and/or ezetimibe (conjugated and unconjugated) were determined in plasma, urine, and fecal samples. Ezetimibe was rapidly absorbed and extensively conjugated following oral administration. The main circulating metabolite in plasma was SCH 60663 [1-O-[4-[trans-(2S,3R)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxo-3-[3(S)-hydroxy-3-(4-fluorophenyl)propyl]-2-azetidinyl]phenyl]-beta-D-glucuronic acid], the glucuronide conjugate of ezetimibe. Plasma concentration-time profiles of unconjugated and conjugated drug exhibited multiple peaks, indicating enterohepatic recycling. Approximately 78 and 11% of the administered [14C]ezetimibe dose were excreted in feces and urine, respectively, by 240 h after drug administration. Total recovery of radioactivity averaged 89% of the administered dose. The main excreted metabolite was the glucuronide conjugate of ezetimibe. The primary metabolite in urine (0- to72-h composite) was also the glucuronide conjugate (about 9% of the administered dose). Significant amounts (69% of the dose) of ezetimibe were present in the feces, presumably as a result of SCH 60663 hydrolysis and/or unabsorbed drug. No adverse events were reported in this study. A single 20-mg capsule of [(14)C]ezetimibe was safe and well tolerated after oral administration. The pharmacokinetics of ezetimibe are consistent with extensive glucuronidation and enterohepatic recirculation. The primary metabolic pathway for ezetimibe is by glucuronidation of the 4-hydroxyphenyl group.     

Comparison of the metabolism and disposition of [3-14C]coumarin in the rat and marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Male Sprague-Dawley rats and marmosets were given a single oral 25 mg/kg dose of [3-14C]coumarin and the excretion of radioactivity in the expired air, urine and faeces monitored up to 96 h. Excretion profiles were similar in both species with the bulk of the dose being excreted in the urine and faeces within 24 h. Chromatographic analysis of 0-48 h urine samples revealed similar metabolic profiles with only small amounts of unchanged coumarin and very little 7-hydroxycoumarin. Coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity was not detectable in hepatic microsomes from either species. These results demonstrate that the disposition of [3-14C]coumarin was similar in the rat and marmoset, a New World primate, and that both species, unlike man, are poor 7-hydroxylators of coumarin.     

Pharmacokinetics of nisoldipine. III. Biotransformation of nisoldipine in rat, dog, monkey, and man

After intraduodenal administration of 14C-labelled (+/-) 3-isobutyl-5-methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitrophenyl)-pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (nisoldipine, Bay k 5552) to rats approx. 68% of the dose was excreted in the bile in the first 6 h. In an isolated perfused rat liver model the excretion with the bile was 56% of the total dose within 3 h. The recovery of radioactivity from orally administered [14C] nisoldipine was approx. 32% (rat), 23% (dog), 73% (monkey) and 74% (man), resp., in the urine. The unchanged drug was neither detected in the urine nor in the bile, but nisoldipine was present in plasma of the rat 30 min after dosing and up to 24 h in man. The drug was extensively metabolized: 18 biotransformation products were identified by comparison with synthetic reference compounds using combined GC-MS, 1 NMR-spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography/radio-gas chromatography and two-dimensional thin layer chromatography, 6 of them being quantitatively important (about 80% of the radioactivity excreted in urine). The metabolites identified accounted for approx. 82% (rat: bile and urine), 19% (dog, due to the low renal excretion), 58% (monkey: urine) and 64% (man: urine) of the excreted dose, resp. The following biotransformation steps occurred: hydroxylation of the isobutyl moiety, dehydrogenation of the 1,4-dihydropyridine system, oxidative ester cleavage, hydroxylation of one of the methyl groups in 2- or 6-position and subsequent oxidation to the carboxylic acid, oxidation of one of the methyl groups of the isobutyl moiety to the carboxyl group reduction of the aromatic nitro group (minor biotransformation reaction) and glucuronidation as phase II reaction.     

Metabolism profiles and excretion of 14C-aminoglutethimide in several animal species and man

1. Following administration of a single oral dose of 14C-aminoglutethimide to rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits and man, greater than 89% of the dose was excreted in urine and faeces within 72 h; dogs eliminated only 51% in this time. 2. Extensive metabolism occurred in all species, with N-acetylaminoglutethimide being the major metabolite except for dog and man. In the latter two species unchanged drug was the main product excreted. 3. A metabolite, 3-(4-acetamidophenyl)-3-(2-carboxamidoethyl)tetrahydrofuran-2-one, not previously found in human urine, was identified. 4. Chronic administration of aminoglutethimide to rats produced no detectable change in the excretory or metabolite patterns of the drug. However chronic administration of phenobarbitone decreased the urinary excretion of 14C over a 72 h period. 5. Residual (72 h) tissue levels of 14C were less than 1 microgram equivalent of 14C-aminoglutethimide/g tissue in the rat, guinea-pig and rabbit. Dog tissues retained a considerable quantity of 14C at this time.