Biochemical studies of toxic agents. The metabolism of 1- and 2-bromopropane in rats

Abstract

(+)-n-Propylmercapturic acid sulphoxide, i.e. (+)-N-acetyl-S-n-propyl-L-cysteine S-oxide, was prepared as the dicyclohexylammonium salt, ([long dash])-n-propyl-mercapturic acid sulphoxide was prepared as the free acid, and S-isopropyl-L-cysteine and isopropylmercapturic acid were also prepared. The metabolism of 1- and 2-bromopropane was studied by radiochromatographic examination of the urine excreted by rats that had been fed with a diet containing S35-labelled yeast and then injected subcutaneously with these compounds. In addition to n-propyl-mer-capturic acid and 2-hydroxypropylmercapturic acid, the excretion of which has already been reported, n-propylmercapturic acid sulphoxide was shown to be a metabolite of 1-bromopropane. Sulphur-containing metabolites of 2-bromopropane, if present in the urine at all, were there in very small amounts. n-Propylmercapturic acid and isopropylmercapturic acid were isolated from the urine of rats that had been injected subcutaneously with S-n-propyl-L-cysteine and S-iso-propyl-L-cysteine respectively.