Pathways of formation of 2-, 3- and 4-bromophenol from bromobenzene. Proposed mechanism for C-S lyase reactions of cysteine conjugates.

Bromobenzene is metabolized by the rat and guinea pig to 2-, 3- and 4-bromophenol. 3-Bromophenol is formed through the sulfur-series pathway to phenols. This route involves the enterohepatic circulation; the key intermediate is the S-(2-hydroxy-4-bromocyclohexa-3,5-dienyl)-L-cysteine derived from the 4-S-glutathione conjugate of the 3,4-oxide. A sulfonium ion C-S lyase reaction is proposed in order to account for the pyridoxal phosphate-dependent cleavage/aromatization step, and a C-S beta-lyase reaction sequence is also proposed for the formation of bromodihydrobenzene thiolols. This route of phenol formation may prove to be a general one for aromatic hydrocarbons and closely related compounds that show arene oxide conjugation with glutathione. 2-Bromophenol is formed predominately by spontaneous isomerization of the 2,3-oxide. 4-Bromophenol is formed by the sulfur-series route from the S-(2-hydroxy-5-bromocyclohexa-3,5-dienyl)-L-cysteine. Additional in vivo routes to 3- and 4-bromophenol involve dehydration/aromatization of the 3,4-dihydro-3,4-diol, possibly by way of conjugates; these routes have transient ketonic intermediates. The pathways from bromobenzene to phenols and to sulfur-containing metabolites derived from premercapturic acids show species and dosage variation.

Conversion of bromobenzene to 3-bromophenol. A route to 3- and 4-bromophenol through sulfur-series intermediates derived from the 3,4-oxide.

Premercapturic acids derived from bromobenzene 3,4-oxide were found to act as precursors of 3- and 4-bromophenol in the rat and guinea pig. The 4-S- and 3-S- positional isomers used in this study were rat urinary metabolites and were prepared in unlabeled, radioactive, and 2,4,6-d3-labeled forms. These are not guinea pig urinary metabolites; the guinea pig does not completely acetylate cysteine conjugates, and this effect leads to urinary products arising from deamination of the cysteine moiety rather than to urinary premercapturic acids. Conversion to phenols was found to be much greater in the guinea pig than in the rat. We interpret our results as indicating that cysteine adducts, rather than the N-acetylcysteine adducts which were administered, are required intermediates in this metabolic route to 3- and 4-bromophenol. This route to phenols may be the major mode of phenol formation for many aromatic compounds. Sulfur-series metabolic products from bromobenzene also include thiocatechols, and these metabolites may be responsible for the hepatotoxicity of bromobenzene in high dosage.

Analytical methods for the study of urinary thioether metabolites in the rat and guinea pig.

Methods are described for the isolation and identification of three classes of bivalent sulfur metabolites characterized as neutral methylthio ethers, ethyl acetate-soluble acidic thioethers and ethyl acetate-insoluble acidic thioethers from rat and guinea pig urine. After extraction of the metabolites by the ammonium carbonate-ethyl acetate procedure, the individual metabolites are separated by capillary gas chromatography and/or by high-performance liquid chromatography with both mu Bondapak C18 and Porasil columns. Identification of the metabolites is based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (electron impact) and on fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Interesting species differences in metabolism were observed. The major ethyl acetate-soluble acidic thioethers in rat urine are mercapturic acids. In contrast, in the guinea pig a new pathway involving mercaptopyruvic, mercaptolactic and mercaptoacetic acids is operative. The thioether metabolites of styrene oxide and phenanthrene are described, but the procedures have been applied in studies of several drugs and environmental chemicals in our laboratory.

Metabolism of bromobenzene. Analytical chemical and structural problems associated with studies of the metabolism of a model aromatic compound.

Our studies of bromobenzene metabolism have shown that the 3,4-oxide is metabolized to 3- and 4-bromophenol through an extended glutathione pathway. The mechanism of sulfur elimination from a dihydrobromobenzene metabolite is not known, although it is known that the aromatization reaction will occur in a 9000-g supernatant fraction of rat liver. The hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic metabolites of bromobenzene are most likely bromthiocatechols and a bromothiopyrogallol, respectively.

Formation of methylthio metabolites of indene in the guinea pig and the rat.

The formation of methylthio metabolites of epoxides has been shown to be a significant route of metabolism in some species. Several aspects of this metabolic conversion for indene were examined. Two isomers of hydroxy(methylthio)indane were found in the urine of guinea pigs administered indene (14.3 and 100 mg/kg, ip). The major isomer, 2-hydroxy-1-methylthioindane (I) was present as 6-9% of the administered dose after 24 hr, while lower amounts (0-0.6%) of a minor isomer (II) were observed. A significant amount of isomer I was found as a urinary metabolite of indene oxide (14% of 12.5 mg/kg, ip). To further elucidate the route of formation of I, the glutathione (I-GLU) and mercapturic acid (I-MER) conjugates of indene oxide were synthesized and administered to the guinea pig. The methylthio metabolite I was present as a significant urinary metabolite of both conjugates of indene oxide, comprising 9.6% and 5.7% of the dose of I-GLU (5 mg, ip) and I-MER (4 mg, ip), respectively. These results show that the formation of a hydroxy(methylthio)indane is a significant route of metabolism for indene and indene oxide in the guinea pig, and that this metabolite arises via further metabolism of conjugates in the glutathione pathway. In the rat, isomer I is a minor metabolite. Mechanistic aspects of the formation of these thioether metabolites are discussed.

Synthesis and elimination reactions of methylsulfonium ions formed from styrene oxide and methylthio compounds related to methionine and cysteine.

Methylsulfonium compounds were prepared through the nucleophilic addition of a number of methylthio reagents to styrene oxide. In the absence of water, methylsulfonium ions from styrene oxide were converted to 2-hydroxy-1-methylthio-1-phenylethane (I) and 1-hydroxy-2-methylthio-1-phenylethane (II) by brief heating. In the presence of water, the glycol 1,2- dihydroxyphenylethane (III) was obtained along with I and II. The addition and elimination reactions were combined in sequences that were carried out in an organic solvent (acetone) or in aqueous solutions containing acetone or methanol. With L-methionine as the reagent, both reactions proceeded in sequence at 37 degrees C in water/methanol (80:20) to give I, II, and III as reaction products. These methods can be used to prepare the methylthio metabolites of styrene oxide.

Metabolism of styrene oxide in the rat and guinea pig.

The metabolism of styrene oxide has been studied in the rat and guinea pig, with emphasis upon bivalent sulfur metabolites. Methylthio analogs of phenylethylene glycol, with the methylthio group in both possible positions, were found as urinary metabolites in both species. These compounds were present in more than trace amounts. The excretion of 2-hydroxy-1-methylthio-1-phenylethane amounted to about 7% of the administered dose in the guinea pig, and about 2% in the rat, in o-24 hr urine samples. The positional isomer 1-hydroxy-2-methylthio-1-phenylethane was excreted in lesser amounts in both species. Acidic urinary metabolites derived from glutathione conjugates are species dependent. In this study, the only products observed in the rat were the mercapturic acids expected as a result of reaction of the oxide with glutathione. In the guinea pig, the major bivalent sulfur acids were the corresponding mercaptoacetic acids. Other related metabolites included a mercaptolactic and a mercaptopyruvic acid, together with one of the mercapturic acids. These metabolites result from partial acetylation or acetylation/deacetylation of cysteine or cysteinylglycine adducts. The hitherto unobserved dihydrodiol formed via an arene oxide was found as a minor metabolite for both styrene and styrene oxide.

High-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry determination of specific lipid peroxidation products in vivo.

Peroxidation of membrane lipids has been implicated in the toxicity of reactive oxygen intermediates and of several hepatotoxins, but the specific products of this peroxidation in vivo have not been chemically identified. A method for the isolation, identification, and quantitation of specific lipid hydroperoxy and hydroxy acids formed in vivo has been developed. Hydroxylated derivatives of linoleic, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic acids formed in mouse liver phosphatidylcholines following carbon tetrachloride administration were isolated by high-pressure liquid chromatography and identified as the trimethylsilyl ether methyl ester derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. This methodology should be important for the investigation of the role of lipid peroxidation in a variety of normal physiologic and pathologic processes.

The effect of 3-methylcholanthrene, Aroclor 1254, and phenobarbital induction on the metabolism of biphenyl by rat and mouse 9000g supernatant liver fractions.

The metabolism of biphenyl in vitro in 9000 g supernatant fractions from livers of noninduced rats and mice was compared with the metabolism in similar liver fractions of rats and mice induced with 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), Aroclor 1254 and phenobarbital (PB). Analyses were carried out by open-tubular capillary gas chromatography and by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The major metabolite of biphenyl in all instances was 4-hydroxybiphenyl, and only very small amounts of diols were observed before induction. After induction by 3-MC, an increase was observed in all monohydroxybiphenyls for rat liver 9000 g supernatant fractions, and the 2,5- and 3,4-diols were present in greater amount. The effect of Aroclor 1254 induction resembled that observed for 3 MC induction. Induction of PB showed very little effect. For the mouse, induction with 3-MC resulted in an increase in all monohydroxybiphenyls and an increase in 2,5- and 3,4-diols. Induction with Aroclor 1254 resulted in an increase in 2-hydroxybiphenyl formation, but not in 4-hydroxylation. Thus the effects of 3-MC and Aroclor 1254 induction on biphenyl metabolism are similar in the rat but not in the mouse. Very little change was observed after PB induction. The effect of 3-MC induction (rat and mouse) on hydroxylation of monohydroxybiphenyls was to increase ortho- and para-hydroxylation in the hydroxy-substituted ring. Single-stage oxidations can be studied in vitro, but in vivo experiments are more informative when two or more stages of oxidation are involved. Although 2-hydroxylation of biphenyl is not a specific effect of cytochrome P1-r50 induction, biphenyl can be used as a test substance in animals to recognize this type of induction.

The effect of phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone induction on the metabolism of biphenyl in the rat and mouse.

The effects of induction by beta-naphthoflavone (BNF) and by phenobarbital (PB) on the metabolism of biphenyl were studied in the rat (Sprague-Dawley) and the mouse (C57BL/6Tex and DBA/2Tex). Marked changes were observed after BNF induction. A major pathway of metabolism in C57BL/6 mice after induction was biphenyl leads to 2-hydroxybiphenyl leads to 2,5-dihydroxybiphenyl. This formerly minor pathways replaced biphenyl leads to 4-hydroxybiphenyl as the chief pathway of metabolism. No effect was observed in DBA/2 mice, in accord with observations that these animals lack the cytosolic receptor needed for cytochrome P1-450 induction. In Sprague-Dawley rats, the effect of BNF induction was to increase greatly the biphenyl leads to 4-hydroxybiphenyl leads to 3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl pathway and to decrease the 4-hydroxy leads to 4,4'-dihydroxy conversion. The effects of PB induction were less striking. Both genetic strains of mice showed a slight increase in 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl formation, and a slight decrease in 3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl formation. In the Sprague-Dawley rat, a slight increase in hydroxylation leading to 3-hydroxybiphenyl was observed. 2-Hydroxylation of biphenyl was not a specific feature of cytochrome P1-450 induction. The formation of the 2,5-diol as a major product was characteristic of cytochrome P1-450 induction in the C57BL/6 mouse, but not in the Sprague-Dawley rat. In both the mouse and rat, cytochrome P1-450 induction led to second-stage oxidation in the aromatic ring that was oxidized in the first stage, but the major pathways after induction were not in the same in both species.

High-performance liquid chromatographic separation and isolation of quinidine and quinine metabolites in rat urine.

A procedure for the separation and isolation of the urinary metabolites of quinidine and quinine by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is described. Nine metabolites of quinidine and eight metabolites of quinine were detected in the urine of male Sprague-Dawley rats after a single dose of quinidine or quinine (50 mg kg-1). Following extraction from urine, the metabolites were separated on either an analytical or a semi-preparative reversed-phase column by gradient elution. After isolation and derivatization, the metabolites were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography--mass spectrometry.

Metabolism of biphenyl in the rat.

The metabolism of biphenyl in the rat has been studied by using gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. The free and conjugated urinary metabolites were characterized. Eight new metabolites were isolated: a dihydrodiol and two hydroxydihydrodiols were characteristic for the epoxide--diol pathway. There were two dihydroxybiphenyls, a trihydroxybiphenyl, a trihydroxymethoxybiphenyl and 4,4'-dihydroxy-3-methylthiobiphenyl. The mass spectra of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of the metabolites exhibited characteristic doubly charged and metastable ions.

Children absorb tris-BP flame retardant from sleepwear: urine contains the mutagenic metabolite, 2,3-dibromopropanol.

The flame retardant, tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate (tris-BP), which is a mutagen and causes cancer and sterility in animals is absorbed from fabric by people. 2,3-Dibromopropanol, a metboloite of tris-BP and a mutagen itself, has been found in the urine samples of ten children who were wearing or who had worn tris-BP-treated sleepwear. Eight of these children were wearing well-washed sleepwear and the possibility of absorption of tris-BP from well-washed sleepwear discussed. 2,3-Dibromopropanol was not found in the urines of one child and one adult who had never worn tris-BP-treated garments.

Metabolism of diethylstilbestrol in the C3H mouse: chromatographic systems for the quantitative analysis of DES metabolic products.

Initial excretion studies with orally administered [monoethyl-1-3H] DES demonstrated the feces to be the principal mode of elimination of DES in the C3H mouse. Metabolic studies with tritiated DES and/or [UL-14C] DES were performed with orally dosed C3H high (MTV+) and low (MTV-) titer MMTV female mice. Extraction and partitioning of the fecal radioactivity demonstrated 77 to 86% (n = 4) to be benzene soluble and the remainder H2O soluble. The principal product in the organic phase following Sephadex LH-20 and HPLC purification was DES. The aqueous phase was resolved by LH-20 into two conjugate fractions that were partially hydrolyzed by beta-glucuronidase. The principal aglycone was chromatographically identical with authentic DES. The urinary conjugates were resolved into six fractions. The four major fractions were 80% hydrolyzable with beta-glucuronidase. Two of these fractions had trans-DES as the principal aglycone, whereas the other two had a major peak similar to but not chromatographically coincident with cis-DES. In certain experiments mice were sequentially dosed with tritium (24 hr) followed by a 14C dose (24 hr). Two mice (MTV+) were also previously fed 1000 ppb DES prior to these experiments. The tritated and 14C products were combined and analyzed simultaneously. This experiment did not reveal significant differences in the metabolism due to the modes of radioactive labeling, MMTV titer, or the prior feeding of DES. The developed methodology was judged to purify quantitatively 90% or more of the DES radioactive products.

Toxic agents resulting from the oxidative metabolism of steroid hormones and drugs.

The oxidative metabolism of some exogenous compounds, and possibly some endogenous compounds as well, can lead to the formation of reactive metabolites. These intermediates react as electrophiles, and they lead in some instances to cell death or cell transformation. Three routes (other routes are also known) of toxicity are discussed. These are the epoxide/dihydrodiol pathway, the catechol/o-quinone pathway, and the alkylation pathway. The possible formation of electrophiles from diethylstilbestrol, from natural estrogens, and from ethynylestradiol is discussed in terms of protein binding. Protein binding is presumptive evidence of electrophile formation, but it does not necessarily indicate that the parent compound is highly cytotoxic, mutagenic, or carcinogenic. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activity is presumed to require reaction of an electrophile with nuclear material. There is evidence for protein binding for these estrogens (diethylstilbestrol, natural estrogens, ethnylestradiol) as a consequence of oxidative metabolism.