Metabolism of branched medium chain length fatty acid. II—β-oxidation of sodium dipropylacetate in rats

Abstract

Catabolic intermediates of sodium dipropylacetate, an anticonvulsant drug, in the urine extracts of the drug‐treated rats were examined by the aid of gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Eleven drug‐specific peaks were estimated as unmetabolized sodium dipropylacetate, succinic acid, 2‐n‐propyl‐3‐hydroxypentanoic acid, 2‐n‐propyl‐4‐hydroxypentanoic acid, 2‐n‐propyl‐3‐oxopentanoic acid, 2‐n‐propyl‐5‐hydroxypentanoic acid, adipic acid, 2‐n‐propylglutaric acid, dipropylacetic acid glucuronide, propionic acid and 3‐heptanone. Administration of sodium dipropylacetate with isoleucine to rats resulted in the disappearance of 2‐n‐propyl‐3‐oxopentanoic acid and a considerable decrease in 2‐n‐propyl‐3‐hydroxypentanoic acid. These data indicated that β‐oxidation was involved in the metabolism of sodium dipropylacetate as well as glucuronide conjugation and ω‐oxidation.