Methoprene and hydroprene are metabolized by ester cleavage in isolated hepatocytes.

ABSTRACT

Methoprene (isopropyl [2E,4E]-11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate) and hydroprene (ethyl[2E,4E]-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate) are actively metabolized, mainly to their corresponding acids by isolated rat hepatocytes and rat liver subcellular fractions. Small amounts of conjugates corresponding to glucuronides are also found. The esterase activity is of microsomal origin and is almost completely inhibited by tri-o-tolyl phosphate in isolated hepatocytes and microsomal fractions supplemented with NADPH. No evidence for the participation of the NADPH-dependent cytochrome P-450 system in the metabolism of either compound was observed.