Ocular pharmacokinetics of mapracorat, a novel, selective glucocorticoid receptor agonist, in rabbits and monkeys.

Mapracorat is a selective glucocorticoid receptor agonist in development for the treatment of a variety of ocular diseases. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the ocular pharmacokinetics of mapracorat after topical dosing over a range of dose levels in rabbits and monkeys. Mapracorat was administered over a range of doses from 0.01 to 3000 µg/eye (rabbit) or 50 to 3000 µg/eye (monkey). All animals received a single instillation, and monkeys also received repeated (three times per day for 4 days) instillations. At predetermined intervals through at least 24 h after dosing, ocular tissues and plasma were collected and analyzed for mapracorat by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Mapracorat was rapidly absorbed and widely distributed into ocular tissues after topical ocular administration, with measurable levels sustained through ≥24 h. In both species, mapracorat concentrations were highest in tears followed by conjunctiva and cornea, with lower levels observed in iris/ciliary body and aqueous humor. Mapracorat concentrations in conjunctiva, cornea, and iris/ciliary body increased linearly with increasing dose levels. Ocular exposure was higher after repeated dosing to monkeys than after a single dose. Systemic exposure to mapracorat was low after a single administration, with an average maximal concentration of ≤2.0 ng/ml at the highest dose tested (3000 µg/eye). In comparison with the traditional glucocorticoids, dexamethasone (0.1%) and prednisolone acetate (1%), mapracorat (3%) demonstrated similar or higher levels in ocular tissues with lower systemic exposure. The favorable pharmacokinetic profile of mapracorat supports further clinical investigation and suggests that a convenient daily dosing regimen may be efficacious for this novel ophthalmic anti-inflammatory therapy.

Enhancing effect of alpha-hydroxyacids on "in vitro" permeation across the human skin of compounds with different lipophilicity.

The percutaneous penetration-enhancing effects of glycolic acid, lactic acid and sodium lauryl sulphate through the human epidermis was investigated using 5-fluorouracil as a hydrophilic model permeant and three compounds belonging to the phenylalcohols: 2-phenyl-ethanol, 4-phenyl-butanol and 5-phenyl-pentanol. The lipophilicity values of the compounds ranged from log Poct -0.95 to 2.89. The effect of the enhancer concentration was also studied. Skin pretreatment with aqueous solutions of the three enhancers did not increase the permeability coefficient of the most lipophilic compound (log Poct = 2.89). For the other compounds assayed, the increase in the permeability coefficients depended on the concentration used in skin pretreatment, and on the lipophilicity of the compounds tested-and was always greater for the most hydrophilic compound (5-fluorouracil), for which lactic acid exerted a greater enhancer effect than glycolic acid or sodium lauryl sulphate. Primary irritation testing of the three enhancers was also carried out at the two concentrations used in skin pretreatment for diffusional experiments (1% and 5%, w/w). The least irritant capacity corresponded to lactic acid; consequently, this alpha-hydroxyacid could be proposed as a percutaneous penetration enhancer for hydrophilic molecules that are of interest for transdermal administration.

n-Amyl alcohol partitioning in synaptic plasma membranes.

Nuclear magnetic resonance and fluorescence polarization techniques were used to determine n-amyl alcohol partitioning between, and effects on, lipid microdomains of isolated rat cerebral synaptic plasma membranes. n-Amyl alcohol binding to the hydrophobic membrane core had an unchanging binding constant over an aqueous alcohol concentration range of 2.5-22.5 mM, indicating a linear relationship between membrane core and aqueous alcohol concentrations. Binding to the membrane surface, in contrast, was cooperative with a steadily increasing binding constant over this alcohol concentration range. Membrane lipid order was determined using various fluorescent probes with preferences for the membrane core, for the mid-acyl regions of the exofacial or cytofacial bilayer leaflets and for ordered or bulk microdomains. All these probes showed steady decreases in membrane order with increasing alcohol concentration, at least for the nanosecond time scale sampled by this technique. These results further demonstrate the complexity of interaction between natural membranes and membrane disordering agents.

Comparative metabolism of methyl isobutyl carbinol and methyl isobutyl ketone in male rats.

Methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) is an oxygenated solvent that is metabolized to methylisobutyl ketone (MIBK) and then to 4-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-2-pentanone (HMP). Plasma levels of MIBC, MIBK and HMP were determined up to 12 h after a single oral 5 mmol/kg dose of MIBC or MIBK to male rats. The major material in the plasma in both cases was HMP, with similar areas-under-the-curve (AUC) and C(max) at 9 h after dosing. MIBK plasma levels and AUC were also comparable after MIBK or MIBC administration. MIBC AUC was only about 6% of the total material in the blood after MIBC, and insignificant after MIBK administration. No other metabolites were detected in the plasma under the analytical conditions used. The extent of metabolism of MIBC to MIBK, by comparing combined AUCs for MIBK and HMP, was at least 73%. The limited systemic toxicity data for MIBC are consistent with those for MIBK, which has been well studied. The metabolic equivalency of MIBC with MIBK indicates that MIBC will have a low potential for toxicity similar to that of MIBK, and reduces the need for additional animal studies.

Subchronic toxicity studies of 3-methyl-1-butanol and 2-methyl-1-propanol in rats.

1. 90-day subchronic toxicity studies with 3-methyl-1-butanol (MEB) and 2-methyl-1-propanol (MEP) were performed on rats to evaluate the toxicological profile of the compounds under conditions of drinking water studies, to identify the potential target organs, and to determine no-observable-adverse-effect-levels (NOAELs) respective of the substances. The test substances were administered to groups of 10 male and 10 female Wistar rats in drinking water at concentrations of 0, 1000 p.p.m. (about 80 mg/kg/d), 4000 p.p.m. (about 340 mg/kg/d) and 16,000 p.p.m. (about 1250 and 1450 mg/kg/d of MEB and MEP respectively). 2. 16,000 p.p.m. was found to be the maximal concentration for both alcohols applicable to rats in drinking water. Higher concentrations had an influence on palatability and could thus not be tested in drinking water studies. 3. At 16,000 p.p.m. MEB a marginal increase in the red blood cell count as well as a slight decrease in the mean corpuscular volume and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin content was observed in males only. These changes are considered to be treatment-related, although the toxicological significance of these findings is unclear. No other substance-related effects were found on body weight (b.w.), mortality, various parameters of clinical chemistry, organ weights, gross pathology and histopathology. 4000 p.p.m. MEB did not cause any substance-induced changes. Therefore, the NOAEL of MEB was defined as 4000 p.p.m. for male and 16,000 p.p.m. for female rats under conditions of oral application via drinking water. 4. MEP concentrations up to and including 16,000 p.p.m. did not induce any signs of toxicity and were therefore defined as the NOAEL respective of this substance for rats under conditions of drinking water application.

Transport of hop aroma compounds across Caco-2 monolayers.

Although being reported and used as a sedative remedy for several years, the bioactive principle of hop preparations is still not decisively clarified. Understanding absorption and transformation processes of potential physiologically active constituents is essential to evaluate the likeliness of biological effects on humans. Therefore, single hop aroma compounds as well as digestive transformation products thereof have been investigated in view of their human intestinal absorption, applying Caco-2 transport experiments as well as investigations on potential biotransformation processes. Selective and sensitive identification and quantification were thereby achieved by application of two-dimensional high resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in conjunction with stable isotope dilution analysis, leading to the determination of apparent permeability values by different mathematical approaches considering sink and non-sink conditions. Overall, calculated permeability values ranged from 2.6 × 10(-6) to 1.8 × 10(-4) cm s(-1) with all mathematical approaches, indicating high absorption potential and almost complete bioavailability for all tested compounds with hydroxyl-functionalities. Considering this high permeability together with the high lipophilicity of these substances, a passive transcellular uptake route can be speculated. Investigated sesquiterpenes and ß-myrcene showed flat absorption profiles while the investigated esters showed decreasing profiles. In view of the lipophilic and volatile nature of the investigated substances, special attention was paid to recovery and mass balance determination. Furthermore, in the course of the transport experiments of 1-octen-3-ol and 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol, additional biotransformation products were observed, namely 3-octanone and 3-methyl-2-butenal, respectively. The absence of these additional substances in control experiments strongly indicates an intestinal first-pass metabolism of the α,ß-unsaturated alcohols 1-octen-3-ol and 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol in Caco-2 cells.

In-vitro evaluation of chronic alcohol effects on expression of drug-metabolizing and drug-transporting proteins.

OBJECTIVES: In alcoholics without alcoholic liver disease, boosted drug elimination has been reported. However, mechanistic explanations for this phenomenon remain uncertain. In particular, data on the potential role of drug transporters are sparse. METHODS: Using a well-established in-vitro model for induction of human drug-metabolizing and drug-transporting proteins, we evaluated the potency of ethanol and the major fermentation side-product isopentanol to alter expression and function of these proteins by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and flow cytometry. P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-inhibiting properties of ethanol and isopentanol were investigated via calcein extrusion assay. KEY FINDINGS: Ethanol and isopentanol significantly changed expression levels of drug-metabolizing and drug-transporting proteins that normalized within 2 weeks upon withdrawal. Cytochrome P-450 2C19 and Pgp were most strongly induced. Ethanol-induced Pgp at the messenger RNA (mRNA) (twofold to eightfold) and protein level (twofold), but not at the functional level. Both compounds did not inhibit Pgp. CONCLUSIONS: Ethanol is demonstrated to increase mRNA and protein expression of human drug transporters such as Pgp in vitro. Withdrawal of ethanol exposure causes return to non-induced conditions within weeks. Functional consequences of increased Pgp expression in alcoholics need to be evaluated by clinical trials applying selective Pgp substrates such as digoxin.

Fragrance material review on 1-phenyl-3-methyl-3-pentanol.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-3-pentanol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. 1-Phenyl-3-methyl-3-pentanol is a member of the fragrance structural group Aryl Alkyl Alcohols and is a tertiary alcohol. The AAAs are a structurally diverse class of fragrance ingredients that includes primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl alcohols covalently bonded to an aryl (Ar) group, which may be either a substituted or unsubstituted benzene ring. The common structural element for the AAA fragrance ingredients is an alcohol group -C-(R1)(R2)OH and generically the AAA fragrances can be represented as an Ar-Alkyl-C-(R1)(R2)OH group. This review contains a detailed summary of all available toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. Available data for 1-phenyl-3-methyl-3-pentanol were evaluated then summarized and includes physical properties, acute toxicity, skin irritation, mucous membrane (eye) irritation, skin sensitization, and genotoxicity data. A safety assessment of the entire Aryl Alkyl Alcohols will be published simultaneously with this document; please refer to Belsito et al. (2012) for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all Aryl Alkyl Alcohols in fragrances.

Fragrance material review on 3-methyl-5-phenylpentanol.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 3-methyl-5-phenylpentanol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. 3-Methyl-5-phenylpentanol is a member of the fragrance structural group Aryl Alkyl Alcohols and is a primary alcohol. The AAAs are a structurally diverse class of fragrance ingredients that includes primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl alcohols covalently bonded to an aryl (Ar) group, which may be either a substituted or unsubstituted benzene ring. The common structural element for the AAA fragrance ingredients is an alcohol group -C-(R1)(R2)OH and generically the AAA fragrances can be represented as an Ar-C-(R1)(R2)OH or Ar-Alkyl-C-(R1)(R2)OH group. This review contains a detailed summary of all available toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. Available data for 3-methyl-5-phenylpentanol were evaluated then summarized and includes physical properties, acute toxicity, skin irritation, mucous membrane (eye) irritation, skin sensitisation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy data. A safety assessment of the entire Aryl Alkyl Alcohols will be published simultaneously with this document; please refer to Belsito et al. (2012) for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all Aryl Alkyl Alcohols in fragrances.

Fragrance material review on 2-methyl-5-phenylpentanol.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 2-methyl-5-phenylpentanol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. 2-Methyl-5-phenylpentanol is a member of the fragrance structural group aryl alkyl alcohols and is a primary alcohol. The AAAs are a structurally diverse class of fragrance ingredients that includes primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl alcohols covalently bonded to an aryl (Ar) group, which may be either a substituted or unsubstituted benzene ring. The common structural element for the AAA fragrance ingredients is an alcohol group -C-(R1)(R2)OH and generically the AAA fragrances can be represented as an Ar-C-(R1)(R2)OH or Ar-Alkyl-C-(R1)(R2)OH group. This review contains a detailed summary of all available toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. Available data for 2-methyl-5-phenylpentanol were evaluated then summarized and includes physical properties, acute toxicity, skin irritation, mucous membrane (eye) irritation, skin sensitization, repeated dose, and genotoxicity data. A safety assessment of the entire aryl alkyl alcohols will be published simultaneously with this document; please refer to Belsito et al. (2012) for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all other branched chain saturated alcohols in fragrances.

Fragrance material review on 1-phenyl-3-methyl-3-pentyl acetate.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-3-pentyl acetate when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. 1-Phenyl-3-methyl-3-pentyl acetate is a member of the fragrance structural group Aryl Alkyl Alcohol Simple Acid Esters (AAASAE). The AAASAE fragrance ingredients are prepared by reacting an aryl alkyl alcohol with a simple carboxylic acid (a chain of 1-4 carbons) to generate formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate and carbonate esters. This review contains a detailed summary of all available toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. Available data for 1-phenyl-3-methyl-3-pentyl acetate were evaluated, then summarized, and includes physical properties, acute toxicity, skin irritation, and skin sensitization data. A safety assessment of the entire AAASAE will be published simultaneously with this document. Please refer to Belsito et al. (2012) for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all AAASAE in fragrances.

Fragrance material review on 2-methyl-4-phenylpentanol.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 2-methyl-4-phenylpentanol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. 2-Methyl-4-phenylpentanol is a member of the fragrance structural group Aryl Alkyl Alcohols and is a primary alcohol. The AAAs are a structurally diverse class of fragrance ingredients that includes primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl alcohols covalently bonded to an aryl (Ar) group, which may be either a substituted or unsubstituted benzene ring. The common structural element for the AAA fragrance ingredients is an alcohol group -C-(R1)(R2)OH and generically the AAAs fragrances can be represented as an Ar-C-(R1)(R2)OH or Ar-Alkyl-C-(R1)(R2)OH group. This review contains a detailed summary of all available toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. Available data for 2-methyl-4-phenylpentanol were evaluated then summarized and includes physical properties, acute toxicity, skin irritation, mucous membrane (eye) irritation, skin sensitization, repeated dose, and genotoxicity data. A safety assessment of the entire Aryl Alkyl Alcohols will be published simultaneously with this document; please refer to Belsito et al. (2012) for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all Aryl Alkyl Alcohols in fragrances.

Fragrance material review on 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.

Fragrance material review on (Z)-2-penten-1-ol.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of (Z)-2-penten-1-ol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.

Disposition of short-chain aliphatic alcohols in rabbit vitreous by ocular microdialysis.

Anatomic and physiological barriers limit drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye via topical or systemic administration. Intravitreal administration has proven to be a safe and effective means of treating various posterior segment diseases. Elimination of a compound from the vitreous chamber may depend on lipophilicity, diffusivity, and aqueous solubility. This information is critical for optimizing intravitreal dosing which in turn can aid in the design of drug delivery systems. The purpose of this study is to determine the vitreous disposition of an ascending homologous series of short chain aliphatic alcohols ranging from hydrophilic methanol to lipophilic 1-heptanol by microdialysis. Radiolabelled 14C-methanol, 14C-1-propanol, 14C-1-pentanol, and 14C-1-heptanol with log partition coefficient values ranging from -0.77 to 2.7 were studied. Microdialysis probes were implanted in both anterior and vitreous chamber of the rabbit eye to sample aqueous and vitreous humors simultaneously. Concentric probe was implanted in vitreous chamber about 3mm below the cornealscleral limbus. Linear probe was implanted in the anterior chamber using a 25-guage needle. Isotonic phosphate buffer saline (IPBS) (pH 7.4) was perfused through the probe with a flow rate of 2 microlml(-1). Alcohols (2.0 microg-130.72 microg) were injected into the vitreous body. In vitro recovery for the probes was calculated using respective alcohols in IPBS. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by non-compartmental analysis. Vitreal elimination half-lives of methanol, 1-propanol, 1-pentanol and 1-heptanol are 52.0+/-5.7, 58.5+/-5.8, 72.9+/-5.8 and 153.7+/-21.6 min, respectively. Dose normalized area under the aqueous concentration time curve values of methanol, 1-propanol and 1-pentanol are 33.8+/-13.4, 28.3+/-11.9 and 29.2+/-4.9 microgminml(-1)microg(-1)10(-2), respectively. Time taken to reach maximum concentration in the anterior chamber for methanol, 1-propanol and 1-pentanol is 120+/-42, 160+/-26, and 260+/-26 min, respectively. The maximum concentration of methanol, 1-propanol and 1-pentanol achieved in the anterior chamber is 18.6+/-10.3, 9.4+/-3.2, and 5.9+/-1.3 microgml(-1)10(-4) respectively. Detectable 1-heptanol levels were not observed in the anterior chamber with the intravitreal dose administered. The shorter vitreal elimination half-lives of the alcohols studied suggest retina as major route of elimination from the vitreous body. The elimination rate constants of alcohols from the vitreous appear to be progressively decreasing with ascending chain length and lipophilicity (methanol to 1-heptanol). Among the alcohols studied, methanol produced the highest concentration in the anterior chamber following vitreal administration.

Use of sensitivity analysis to assess reliability of metabolic and physiological models.

Because ethical considerations often preclude directly determining the human health effects of treatments or interventions by experimentation, such effects are estimated by extrapolating reactions predicted from animal experiments. Under such conditions, it must be demonstrated that the reliability of the extrapolated predictions is not excessively affected by inherent data limitations and other components of model specification. This is especially true of high-level models composed of ad hoc algebraic equations whose parameters do not correspond to specific physical properties or processes. Models based on independent experimental data restricting the numerical space of parameters that do represent actual physical properties can be represented at a more detailed level. Sensitivities of the computed trajectories to parameter variations permit more detailed attribution of uncertainties in the predictions to these low-level properties. S-systems, in which parameters are estimated empirically, and physiological models, whose parameters can be estimated accurately from independent data, are used to illustrate the applicability of trajectory sensitivity analysis to lower-level models.

Deposition of dibasic esters in the upper respiratory tract of the male and female Sprague-Dawley rat.

Inhalation exposure of the male and female rat to high concentrations of a mixture of the dibasic esters dimethyl succinate (DMS), dimethyl glutarate (DMG), and dimethyl adipate (DMA) results in mild olfactory toxicity. This response is thought to be due to the in situ formation of acidic metabolites via nasal carboxylesterases. The current study was designed to provide inhalation dosimetric information for these vapors. Deposition of DMS, DMG, and DMA was measured in the surgically isolated upper respiratory tracts (URT) of ketamine-xylazine-anesthetized male and female rats under constant velocity flow conditions at a flow rate of 100 ml/min. Deposition of acetone was measured in both genders for comparative purposes. URT deposition efficiencies in excess of 98.3% were observed for DMS, DMG, and DMA in animals exposed to each vapor individually. No gender differences in deposition efficiency were observed for these vapors or for acetone. Deposition of DMS, DMG, and DMA was also measured in animals exposed to all three vapors simultaneously. Deposition efficiency under simultaneous exposure conditions ranged between 97.3 and 98.5%. These values were slightly lower (about 1%) than those obtained under individual exposure conditions (p less than 0.0001). The reduced deposition efficiency may have resulted from competitive inhibition of nasal metabolism due to the simultaneous presence of all three carboxylesterase substrate vapors in nasal tissues. If so, inhalation of dibasic ester vapors would be expected to inhibit the uptake of other carboxylesterase substrate vapors without influencing uptake of vapors which are not substrates for this enzyme. Such was observed in studies using DMS, ethyl acetate (the substrate vapor), and isoamyl alcohol (the nonsubstrate vapor). Specifically, simultaneous exposure to DMS markedly inhibited uptake of ethyl acetate without altering uptake of isoamyl alcohol. Gender differences were not observed in URT deposition of any of the six vapors used in the current study, DMS, DMG, DMA, ethyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol, or acetone, suggesting that gender differences in URT deposition may not be widespread among vapors. The high URT deposition efficiencies of the dibasic esters are consistent with the olfactory toxicity resulting from inhalation exposure to these vapors.

Development of a mechanism-based dosimetry model for 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-pentanol-induced alpha 2u-globulin nephropathy in male Fischer 344 rats.

A mechanism-based dosimetry model was developed to describe 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-pentanol (TMP-2-OH) dosimetry and renal alpha 2u-globulin (alpha 2u) nephropathy in the male Fischer 344 rat. Experimental data were collected to estimate the chemical-specific parameters (metabolic constants, tissue solubility, and oral absorption rate) necessary to describe TMP-2-OH dosimetry in male rats. The concentrations of alpha 2u and TMP-2-OH were measured in male rats up to 64 hr after a single oral dose of TMP-2-OH (6, 60, or 600 mg/kg). The model predicted the time course behavior of TMP-2-OH and alpha 2u in the kidney, but overestimated their renal concentrations by two or threefold. Simulations of renal alpha 2u concentration were sensitive to changes in TMP-2-OH-alpha 2u-binding affinity and degradation rate of the TMP-2-OH-protein complex. In contrast, simulation of the concentration of TMP-2-OH in the kidney was most sensitive to the amount of protein present. Oral absorption of TMP-2-OH was dose dependent. The model predicted that alpha 2u and TMP-2-OH concentration in the kidney is sensitive to changes in the rate of TMP-2-OH absorbed after oral administration. This model permitted a more rigorous evaluation than has previously been possible of the combination of protein characteristics and chemical dosimetry required for the accumulation of alpha 2u in the kidney of male rats. The behavior of the model is consistent with the qualitative aspects of the alpha 2u hypothesis. However, further characterization of alpha 2u distribution and renal hydrolysis will be required in order to fully characterize the hypothesis at the quantitative level.

Biotransformation of [(12)C]- and [(13)C]-tert-amyl methyl ether and tert-amyl alcohol.

tert-Amyl methyl ether (TAME) is intended for use as a gasoline additive to increase oxygen content. Increased oxygen content in gasoline reduces tailpipe emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide from cars. Due to possible widespread use of TAME, the toxicity of TAME is under investigation. We studied the biotransformation of TAME in rats and one human volunteer after inhalation of (12)C- or (13)C-labeled TAME. In addition, the biotransformation of [(13)C]-tert-amyl alcohol was studied in rats after gavage. Urinary metabolites were identified by GC/MS and (13)C NMR. Rats (two males and two females) were individually exposed to 2000 ppm [(12)C]- or [(13)C]TAME for 6 h, and urine was collected for 48 h. Free and glucuronidated 2-methyl-2,3-butanediol and a glucuronide of tert-amyl alcohol were identified by (13)C NMR, GC/MS, and LC/MS/MS as major urinary metabolites on the basis of the relative intensities of the (13)C NMR signals. The presence of several minor metabolites was also indicated by (13)C NMR; they were identified as tert-amyl alcohol, 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid. One human volunteer was exposed to an initial concentration of 27 000 ppm [(13)C]TAME by inhalation for 4 min from a 2 L gas sampling bag, and metabolites of TAME excreted in urine were analyzed by (13)C NMR. All TAME metabolites identified in rats were also present in the human urine samples. To study tert-amyl alcohol biotransformation, male rats (n = 3) were treated with 250 mg/kg [(13)C]-tert-amyl alcohol dissolved in corn oil by gavage, and urine was collected for 48 h. (13)C NMR of the urine samples showed the presence of metabolites identical to those in the urine of [(13)C]TAME-treated rats. Our results suggest that TAME is extensively metabolized by rats and humans to tert-amyl alcohol which may be further oxidized to diols and carboxylic acids. These reactions are likely mediated by cytochrome P450-dependent oxidations.

Tolerance to 1-pentene-3-ol and to 1-pentene-3-one in relation to alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldo keto reductase (AKR) activities in Drosophila melanogaster.

The detoxification of 1-pentene-3-ol (pentenol) and 1-pentene-3-one (pentenone) by Drosophila melanogaster adult flies has been studied in two homozygous lines for the AdhF and AdhS alleles (LRC lines), in their respective lines selected for tolerance to ethanol (LRSe lines) and in a homozygous strain for the Adhn4 null allele. For each line, the genotype and sex LDs50 of both compounds were estimated. Then, in order to explain the differences in LD50, both alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldo keto reductase (AKR) activities were assayed. In addition, the effects of pentenone on AKR activity were also studied. Our results show that ADH-positive flies exhibit a much higher sensitivity to pentenol than ADH-null flies. However, both ADH-positive and ADH-null flies show a similar tolerance to pentenone. Our results show that flies selected for improving tolerance to ethanol also have increased tolerance to pentenol (FF and SS flies) and pentenone (SS flies). However, this improved ability to tolerate pentenol and/or pentenone cannot be explained by changes in ADH or AKR activities. On the other hand, we have observed a beneficial effect of pentenol, but not of pentenone, in n4 flies. We also show that AKR activity is not modified by the administration of pentenone. These results suggest that, in the absence of ADH activity, pentenol may be transformed into a compound that is less toxic than pentenone and that pentenone itself might also be transformed into a less toxic compound.