Distribution of membrane phospholipids in the rabbit neural retina, optic nerve head and optic nerve.

Since diseases of the neural retina and optic nerve can result in alteration of biological membranes, this study determines similarities and differences in the membrane phospholipid content of the neural retina, optic nerve head, and optic nerve to serve as baseline data. Neural retina, optic nerve head, and optic nerve were dissected, isolated as 5 sets from 20 rabbits and frozen in liquid N2. Separate pooled-tissue extracts were prepared for each set of tissues and phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) analyses performed. Ten phospholipids were quantified (respective neural retina, optic nerve head, and optic nerve mole % are given for the 5 major phospholipids detected): phosphatidylcholine (PC), 44.61, 27.67, 26.40; PC plasmalogen or alkylacyl PC (CPLIP); phosphatidylinositol (PI); sphingomyelin (SM); phosphatidylserine (PS), 12.63, 14.77, 15.09; phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), 21.21, 9.59, 8.69; PE plasmalogen (EPLAS), 11.07, 30.96, 33.93; an unidentified (unknown) phospholipid (U) at the chemical-shift value of 0.13 ppm; diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG); and phosphatidic acid (PA), 0.46, 2.92, 1.57. Significant differences between the various tissues were determined by the one-way analysis of variance, using a Scheffé range value of P < 0.05. The neural retina in all phospholipids detected except for the uncharacterized (unknown) phospholipid was significantly different from the optic nerve head tissue. The optic nerve head was significantly different from the optic nerve in PC, CPLIP, PE, EPLAS, U, DPG, and PA. The data provide a baseline for studies on pathologically changed neural retina, optic nerve head, and optic nerve.

Urinary metabolites of a novel quinoxaline non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor in rabbit, mouse and human: identification of fluorine NIH shift metabolites using NMR and tandem MS.

1. The urinary metabolites of (S)-2-ethyl-7-fluoro-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-quinoxaline-carboxylic acid isopropylester (GW420867X) have been investigated in samples obtained following oral administration to rabbit, mouse and human. GW420867X underwent extensive biotransformation to form hydroxylated metabolites and glucuronide conjugates on the aromatic ring, and on the ethyl and isopropyl side-chains in all species. In rabbit urine, a minor metabolite was detected and characterized as a cysteine adduct that was not observed in mouse or man. 2. The hydroxylated metabolites and corresponding glucuronide conjugates were isolated by semi-preparative HPLC and characterized using NMR, LC-NMR and LC-MS/MS. The relative proportions of fluorine-containing metabolites were determined in animal species by 19F-NMR signal integration. 3. The fluorine atom of the aromatic ring underwent NIH shift rearrangement in the metabolites isolated and characterized in rabbit, mouse and human urine. 4. The characterization of the NIH shift metabolites in urine enabled the detection and confirmation of the presence of these metabolites in human plasma.

Urinary metabolites of a novel quinoxaline non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor in dog, cynomolgus monkey and mini-pig.

1. The metabolism of (S)-2-ethyl-7-fluoro-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-quinoxalinecarboxylic acid isopropylester (GW420867X) has been investigated following oral administration to dog, cynomolgus monkey and mini-pig. 2. The urinary metabolites were isolated and characterized using semi-preparative HPLC, NMR and LC-MS/MS. The relative proportions of fluorine-containing metabolites were determined for each species by 19F-NMR signal integration. 3. The metabolite profiles for each species were similar, although the proportion of individual components varied, suggesting that similar metabolic pathways are involved in the biotransformation of GW420867X in the species studied. 4. The urinary metabolites indicated that the major routes of biotransformation included hydroxylation and subsequent glucuronic acid conjugation on the aromatic ring, and on the ethyl and isopropyl side chains. A component was observed in mini-pig urine that corresponded to hydroxylation and glucuronidation accompanied by loss of the fluorine atom.