ABSTRACT
1. The Phase II in vitro metabolism of 3-methylindole (3MI) metabolites was investigated in pigs to determine the possible relationship between 3MI Phase II metabolism and 3MI accumulation in fat. Sulphation and glucuronidation of five of the seven major metabolites found to be produced by porcine microsomes was investigated using porcine cytosol and microsomes, respectively. The possible formation of glutathione conjugates was also investigated using microsomally activated 3MI intermediate(s). 2. No sulphation or glucuronidation was observed for metabolites 3-hydroxy-3-methyloxindole, 3-methyloxindole, indole-3-carbinol or 2-aminoacetophenone; however, 5-hydroxy-3-methylindole (5-OH-3MI) was conjugated with both sulphate and glucuronic acid. 3. The enzyme responsible for sulphation of 5-OH-3MI was identified as the thermostable form of phenol-sulphotransferase (TS-PST) based on its susceptibility to TS-PST inhibitors and the correlation between sulphation of 5-OH-3MI and sulphation of the prototype substrate p-nitrophenol (r = 0.94, p < 0.001). 4. A 3MI-glutathione adduct was identified in microsomal incubations containing 3MI and glutathione. 5. Sulphation of 5-OH-3MI was high in pigs with low levels of 3MI in fat. No relationship was observed between 3MI levels in fat and either glutathione transferase or glucuronidation activities in liver.