Biotransformation of oxaprotiline: isolation and identification of metabolites in urine of rat and dog.

The biotransformation of oxaprotiline has been investigated in rat and dog after oral administration of racemic 14C-labelled oxaprotiline X HCl. Rats excreted 28% dose in urine within 120 h and dogs 32% within 96 h. The metabolites were isolated by liquid chromatography and their structures elucidated by spectroscopic methods. In both species, oxaprotiline is extensively metabolized. Principal metabolic transformations are aromatic hydroxylations and formation of aromatic hydroxy-methoxy derivatives, N-demethylation, deamination and direct O-glucuronidation. Most of the primary metabolites formed by functionalization reactions occur in both free and glucuronidated form. In the rat, diastereoisomeric 3-hydroxy metabolites and the corresponding phenolic glucuronides are predominant. Products of deamination are minor, and products of direct O-glucuronidation are not detectable. In the dog, biotransformation is more complex. Major metabolites are diastereoisomeric 2- and 3-hydroxy compounds and the corresponding phenolic glucuronides. Oxidations in the side-chain and direct O-glucuronidation are minor metabolic pathways.

Quantitative assay of maprotiline in biological fluids by gas-liquid chromatography.

A specific and sensitive gas-liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the assay of maprotiline in biological fluids. Maprotiline is isolated from the biological sample by base-specific extraction followed by conversion into the heptafluorobutyramide. The derivative is determined quantitatively by gas-liquid chromatography with an electron capture detector, nortriptyline being used as the internal standard. Amounts below 10 ng per biological sample can be measured.

The metabolic fate of [14C]oxaprotiline.HCl in man. II. Isolation and identification of metabolites.

The new antidepressant agent oxaprotiline is extensively metabolized by man. Following an oral 50 mg dose of racemic [14C]oxaprotiline, most of the 14C was excreted in the urine as metabolites (greater than 98% total 14C); only 1% was excreted unchanged. Glucuronidation at the carbinol group of the molecule is the major metabolic pathway (83%). The two diastereoisomeric glucuronides were separated; the more polar O-glucuronide of S(+)-oxaprotiline predominates (44%), suggesting stereoselective disposition of the two enantiomers. Oxidative pathways are minor, and yield desmethyl oxaprotiline (10%) and 3-hydroxy R(-)-oxaprotiline (4%), both of which are conjugated with glucuronic acid. The biotransformation of oxaprotiline in man is less complex than that of other polycyclic antidepressants, which are metabolized mainly by oxidative reactions.

Multiple inverse isotope dilution assay for the stereospecific quantitative determination of R(-) and S(+)-oxaprotiline in biological fluids.

An isotope dilution assay for the determination of both oxaprotiline enantiomers in biological samples after administration of the racemic mixture has been developed. The enantiomers were reacted with synthetically prepared, optically pure N-trifluoroacetyl-S(-)-prolyl chloride, followed by high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of the diastereoisomers formed. Quantitation was performed by on-line UV detection at 260 nm and off-line radiometry by liquid scintillation counting. Endogenous compounds and metabolites do not interfere in the assay. Analysis of water and the blood and urine of rats spiked with [14C]oxaprotiline X HCl showed recoveries for S(+)-oxaprotiline X HCl (mean +/- coefficient of variation, n = 4-6) of 98.0 +/- 1.0% (water), 100.5 +/- 0.6% (blood) and 101.5 +/- 2.0% (urine), and for R(-)-oxaprotiline X HCl of 101.3 +/- 2.0% (water), 102.2 +/- 2.1% (blood) and 103.2 +/- 0.2% (urine). A pilot study to determine blood levels of the two enantiomers in two rats dosed with racemic [14C]oxaprotiline X HCl (10 mg/kg i.v.) was carried out to test the method. The results indicated stereoselective disposition of oxaprotiline enantiomers in the rat. The ratio of the areas under the blood concentration curves for R(-)-to S(+)-oxaprotiline X HCl was 1.14.

Determination of the antidepressant levoprotiline and its N-desmethyl metabolite in biological fluids by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A specific and sensitive gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method was developed and validated for the determination of the antidepressant levoprotiline in blood, plasma and urine and the simultaneous determination of levoprotiline and its desmethyl metabolite in urine. Deuterium-labelled analogues were used as internal standards. The compounds were isolated from the biological fluids by liquid-liquid extraction under basic conditions. Following derivatization with perfluoropropionic anhydride, the samples were analysed by capillary column gas chromatography/electron impact mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. The analysis of spiked samples demonstrated the high accuracy and precision of the method. Blood concentrations of levoprotiline down to 0.7 nmol l-1 (1 ml used for analysis) could be quantified with a coefficient of variation of 10% or less. The method is suitable for use in pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies of levoprotiline in humans.