Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Glucuronides”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Rates of excretion of cotinine, nicotine glucuronide, and 3-hydroxycotinine glucuronide in rat bile.

A new HPLC assay was adapted for radiometric detection of nicotine metabolites in rat bile. Two glucuronides were identified as the principal biliary metabolites of nicotine. In addition to nicotine glucuronide and 3-hydroxycotinine glucuronide, cotinine was also detected in bile after administration to rats of a single subcutaneous dose of (-)-S-nicotine (0.2 or 1.0 mg/kg) that contained a tracer dose of rac-[pyrrolidine-2'-14C]nicotine (20 microCi). Biliary metabolites accounted for only 3% of the [14C]nicotine dose, but phenobarbital pretreatment (100 mg/kg ip for 3 days) increased the amount of [14C]nicotine-derived radioactivity recovered in bile to 8% and also accelerated rates of biliary excretion of all three nicotine metabolites. Dose-dependency of nicotine metabolism occurred: less nicotine glucuronide was excreted at the low dose than at the high dose.

Animals↗

Determination of a prostaglandin D2 antagonist and its acyl glucuronide metabolite in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection--a lack of MS/MS selectivity between a glucuronide conjugate and a phase I metabolite.

A method for the determination of a prostaglandin D(2) receptor antagonist (I, a compound being evaluated for the prevention of niacin induced flushing) and its acyl glucuronide metabolite (II) in human plasma is presented. The method utilized high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface operated in the positive ionization mode. The product ion was a radical cation generated via a homolytic bond cleavage. A chemical analog of the drug was used as internal standard (III). The acyl glucuronide metabolite (II) was detected using the same precursor-to-product ion transition used for the parent compound after chromatographic separation of I and II. Drug and metabolite were extracted using semi-automated, 96-well format solid phase extraction (SPE), and chromatography was performed using a reverse phase analytical column with an isocratic mobile phase. The chromatographic retention factor (k') of II was found to be highly sensitive to mobile phase formic acid concentration. An adjustment in mobile phase formic acid concentration improved the chromatographic separation between II and a mono-hydroxylated metabolite after an unexpected lack of MS/MS selectivity between the two molecules was observed. The dependence of retention factor on formic acid concentration (k' increased as formic acid concentration decreased) was thought to indicate polar interactions between II and the stationary phase. The stability of II in spiked human plasma was determined. The rate of hydrolysis back to parent compound was relatively low (approximately 0.1 and 0.5% per hour at room temperature and 4 degrees C, respectively) indicating that significant changes in analyte concentrations did not occur during sample processing. The concentration range of the assay was 10-2500 ng/mL for both drug and glucuronide metabolite.

Automation↗

Use of defined estrone glucuronide-hen egg white lysozyme conjugates as signal generators in homogeneous enzyme immunoassays for urinary estrone glucuronide.

Three structurally characterized estrone glucuronide-lysozyme conjugates, E1 (a 60:40 mixture acylated at K3 and K97), E3 (acylated at K33), and E5 (acylated at both K33 and K97) were isolated and purified using a combination of cation-exchange chromatography on S-sepaharose in 7M urea and hydrophobic interaction chromatography on butyl sepharose. Urea was essential to separate the conjugates into six chromatographically homogeneous fractions. In the absence of urea, complex mixtures of lysozyme and the six conjugate fractions were always encountered. The E1, E3, and E5 conjugates were highly inhibited by a sheep polyclonal anti-estrone glucuronide antibody only after the hydrophobic interaction chromatography step. The high level of inhibition enabled all three conjugates to be utilized as signal generators in homogenous enzyme immunoassays for urinary estrone glucuronide. Despite the apparently higher affinity of E3 for the antibody, both E1 and E3 gave standard curves that were indistinguishable provided that 1.7-fold more antiserum was used for E1. Both E1 and E3 yielded menstrual cycle urinary data that agreed with that provided by the Ovarian Monitor pre-coated assay tubes. Although, the menstrual cycle pattern was similar for the three signal generators, the E1G excretion rates yielded by E5 as the signal generator were only 60% of the reference values. Despite structural differences, there was no advantage gained in separating E1 and E3, but higher substituted conjugates such as E5 need removal for best assay performance.

Acylation↗

Determination of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide, and morphine-6-glucuronide in plasma after intravenous and intrathecal morphine administration using HPLC with electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to atmospheric pressure ionization (API) mass spectrometry (MS) has become a useful technique in the direct analysis of low concentrations of conjugated opiate metabolites. Previous methods using HPLC with traditional detection methods do not have the sensitivity to detect low concentrations of most conjugated drug metabolites. Methods using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) require hydrolysis and derivatization of the sample followed by an indirect quantitation of conjugated metabolites. Recently, several reports have described direct analysis of opiates and their glucuronide conjugates by HPLC and API-MS. These methods report lower limits of detection than GC-MS methods and quantitation in the low nanogram-per-milliliter range for the glucuronide metabolites of morphine. This report describes an HPLC-electrospray-MS-MS method capable of detecting subnanogram concentrations of morphine (MOR) and its 3- and 6-glucuronide metabolites (M3G and M6G, respectively). The assay has a dynamic range of 250-10,000 pg/mL for M3G and M6G and 500-10,000 pg/mL for MOR. Inter- and intra-assay precision and accuracy varied by less than 8% for all analytes at 750-, 2500-, and 7500-pg/mL concentrations. This assay was used for the determination of MOR, M3G, and M6G in human plasma after intravenous (i.v.) and intrathecal (i.t.) administration of MOR and its effects on the ventilatory response to hypoxia. Peak plasma concentrations of MOR and M6G were measured 1 h after i.v. administration of MOR. Peak concentrations of M3G were measured 2 h after i.v. administration of MOR. After i.t. administration of MOR, peak concentrations of M3G were measured 8 h postdose. MOR was not detected in plasma of patients administered MOR i.t.. Subnanogram concentrations of M6G were measured in the plasma of five of nine patients administered MOR i.t..

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Measurement of estrone-3-glucuronide and pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide in early morning urine samples to monitor ovarian function.

The determination of the concentration of estrone-3-glucuronide and pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide has been performed by a chemiluminescent immunoassay in early morning urine samples of 14 normal menstruating women and 11 women affected by luteal phase defect. The early morning urine samples were daily collected for an entire menstrual cycle. We have employed a timed and measured volume collection procedure as correction factor. The integrated values of the hormonal data in definite time intervals were used to create a nomogram. By means of this method, it was possible to completely separate normal from luteal insufficiency subjects and to distinguish two different types of luteal phase defects. Moreover, the same approach was applied to the study of the role and the frequency of luteal phase defect in 15 patients affected by habitual abortion and in 17 premenopausal women who had undergone quadrantectomy for T1a No Mo breast cancer. A luteal phase defect was detected in nine of the aborting patients (60%) and in eight women affected by breast cancer (47%). Finally estrone-3-glucuronide was measured in early morning urine samples of 96 prepubertal and pubertal girls in different pubertal stages and in one patient affected by precocious puberty, before and during an agonist GnRH treatment. The urinary test of ovarian function seems to be suitable for diagnostic purposes and for clinical studies.

Abortion, Habitual↗

Studies on the reactivity of acyl glucuronides--V. Glucuronide-derived covalent binding of diflunisal to bladder tissue of rats and its modulation by urinary pH and beta-glucuronidase.

Acyl glucuronide conjugates of acidic drugs have been shown to be reactive metabolites capable of undergoing non-enzymic hydrolysis, rearrangement (isomerization via acyl migration) and covalent binding reactions with plasma protein. In an earlier study (King and Dickinson, Biochem Pharmacol 45: 1043-1047, 1993), we documented formation of covalent adducts of diflunisal (DF), a salicylate derivative which is metabolized in part to a reactive acyl glucuronide (DAG), with liver, kidney, skeletal muscle and small and large intestine (in addition to plasma protein) of rats given the drug i.v. twice daily at 50 mg DF/kg for 7 days. The present study shows that covalent adducts of DF were also formed with urinary bladder tissue of these rats, achieving concentrations (ca. 5 micrograms DF equivalents/g tissue) higher than those found in the other tissues noted above. After cessation of dosing, the adduct concentrations declined with an apparent T 1/2 value of ca. 20 hr. Adducts were also formed ex vivo in excised rat bladders in which DAG or a prepared mixture of its acyl migration isomers (iso-DAG) were incubated at pH 5.0, 6.5 and 8.0. After 8 hr incubation, the highest concentrations (ca. 11 micrograms DF equivalents/g) were produced with iso-DAG at pH 5.0, and the lowest (ca. 2.3 micrograms DF equivalents/g) with DAG at pH 5.0. However, a major competing reaction for DAG (at least at pH 5.0) was hydrolysis by beta-glucuronidases originating from bladder tissue. By contrast, iso-DAG was quite resistant to such hydrolysis. The phenolic glucuronide conjugate, another important metabolite of DF, was hydrolysed only slowly. Similar results were obtained in fresh rat urine adjusted to pH 5.0. The results support covalent DF adduct formation in rat bladder originating from both DAG and iso-DAG as ultimate reactants, though the extent of binding is modulated by both urinary pH and beta-glucuronidases.

Animals↗

Modulation of metabolic effects of morphine-6-glucuronide by morphine-3-glucuronide.

Modification of pharmacological effects of morphine by its glucuronides has been recently reported. Morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) is a more potent opioid agonist than morphine, whereas morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) has no opioid effects and has been suggested to be an antagonist of morphine's antinociceptive and respiratory depressive effects. This study addressed the metabolic effects of direct central nervous system administration of M3G and its interaction with the hyperglycemic effects of M6G. Hormonal and whole body glucose metabolic effects of M3G, M6G, and M3G + M6G ICV administration were studied in conscious unrestrained chronically catheterized rats. Whole body glucose kinetics were assessed with a primed constant intravenous infusion of 3[3H]glucose in rats injected intracerebroventricularly (ICV) with H2O (5 microliters), M3G (1 microgram), M6G (1 microgram), or M3G (1 microgram) + M6G (1 microgram). A significant rise in plasma glucose level was observed after ICV injection of M6G (28%), and M3G + M6G (41%), but not after M3G as compared to time-matched H2O control. Early increases in the rate of glucose appearance (Ra) and whole body glucose utilization (Rd) were observed (58% and 48%, respectively) 30 min after M3G + M6G administration, whereas the increases after M6G injection were progressive and reached values 47% higher than basal 180 min after injection. M3G administration enhanced the M6G induced increase in plasma glucose level (+21%), Ra (+29%), Rd (+26%), and plasma lactate level (+21%). Though no significant hormonal change was observed in H2O, M3G, and M6G injected animals, the combination of M3G + M6G resulted in a significant increase in circulating catecholamine levels with no alterations in plasma corticosterone, insulin, and glucagon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Determination of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide in monkey and dog plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A specific and simultaneous assay of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M-3-G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M-6-G) in monkey and dog plasma has been developed. These methods are based on rapid isolation using solid phase extraction cartridge, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-electrospray ionization (ESI)-tandem mass spectrometric (MSMS) detection. Analytes were separated on a semi-micro ODS column in acetonitrile-formic (or acetic) acid mixed solution. The selected reaction monitoring for assay in monkey and dog plasma, as precursor-->product ion combinations of m/z 286-->286 for morphine, m/z 462-->286 for glucuronides and m/z 312-->312 for internal standard (IS, nalorphine) were used. The linearity of morphine, M-3-G and M-6-G was confirmed in the concentration range of 0.5-50, 25-2500, 2.5-250 ng/ml in monkey plasma, 0.5-100, 25-5000, 2.5-500 ng/ml in dog plasma, respectively. The precision of this assay method, expressed as CV, was less than 15% over the entire concentration range with adequate assay accuracy. Therefore, the HPLC-ESI-MSMS method is useful for the determination of morphine, M-3-G and M-6-G with sufficient sensitivity and specificity in pharmacokinetic studies.

Animals↗

Determination of morphine and its 3- and 6-glucuronides, codeine, codeine-glucuronide and 6-monoacetylmorphine in body fluids by liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A selective assay of morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), morphine, codeine, codeine-6-glucuronide (C6G) and 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) based on liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS) is described. The drugs were extracted from serum, autopsy blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid or vitreous humor using C18 solid-phase extraction cartridges and subjected to LC-APCI-MS analysis. The separation was performed on an ODS column in acetonitrile-50 mM ammonium formate buffer, pH 3.0 (5:95), using a flow-rate gradient from 0.6 to 1.1 ml/min (total analysis time was 17 min). The quantitative analysis was done using deuterated analogues of each compound. Selected-ion monitoring detection was applied: m/z 286 (for morphine, M3G-aglycone and M6G-aglycone), 289 (for morphine-d3, M3G-d3-aglycone and M6G-d3-aglycone), 300 (for codeine and C6G-aglycone), 303 (for C6G-d3-aglycone), 306 (for codeine-d6), 328 (for 6-MAM), 334 (for 6-MAM-d6), 462 (for M3G and M6G), 465 (for M3G-d3 and M6G-d3), 476 (for C6G) and 479 (for C6G-d3). The limits of quantitation were: 1 microg/l for morphine, 2 microg/l for 6-MAM, 5 microg/l for M3G, M6G and codeine and 200 microg/I for C6G. The recovery ranged from 85 to 98% for each analyte. The method appeared very selective and may be used for the routine determination of opiates in body fluids of heroin abusers and patients treated with opiates.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Morphine, morphine-6-glucuronide, and morphine-3-glucuronide in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma after epidural administration of morphine.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that the potency of epidural morphine might be explained by spinal metabolism to the active and potent metabolite morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G). The main objective of this study was to describe the early pharmacokinetics of epidurally administered, morphine with special attention to the appearance of the glucuronated metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). METHODS: Morphine was administered epidurally to eight patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery. The concentrations of morphine and its 6-glucuronide and 3-glucuronide metabolites were monitored in blood and CSF at 10, 30, 60, and 120 minutes and 10 and 24 hours. Postoperative pain was estimated on a visual analog scale, and analgesia requirements (administered by a patient-controlled technique) were recorded. RESULTS: Only traces of the metabolites were found in CSF and in only two patients throughout the 24 hours. Both metabolites appeared rapidly (within 30 minutes) in plasma in all patients and were found in plasma throughout the study period. Morphine concentration peaked in CSF within 30 minutes at a very high level; in plasma, it peaked at 10 minutes. No correlation was seen between initial or later concentrations of morphine in CSF and postoperative pain or morphine requirements. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence of spinal metabolism of morphine could be found. Rapid distribution of morphine to CSF and plasma occurred after epidural administration. No value of initial CSF morphine concentrations for prediction of analgesic requirements could be demonstrated.

Abdomen↗

Morphine, morphine-6-glucuronide and morphine-3-glucuronide pharmacokinetics in newborn infants receiving diamorphine infusions.

1. The pharmacokinetics of morphine, morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) and morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) were studied in 19 ventilated newborn infants (24-41 weeks gestation) who were given a loading dose of 50 micrograms kg-1 or 200 micrograms kg-1 of diamorphine followed by an intravenous infusion of 15 micrograms kg-1 h-1 of diamorphine. Plasma concentrations of morphine, M3G and M6G were measured during the accrual to steady-state and at steady state of the diamorphine infusion. 2. Following both the 50 micrograms kg-1 or 200 micrograms kg-1 loading doses the mean steady-state plasma concentration (+/- s.d.) of morphine, M3G and M6G were 86 +/- 52 ng ml-1, 703 +/- 400 ng ml-1 and 48 +/- 28 ng ml-1 respectively and morphine clearance was found to be 4.6 +/- 3.2 ml min-1 kg-1. 3. M3G formation clearance was estimated to be 2.5 +/- 1.8 ml min-1 kg-1, and the formation clearance of M6G was estimated to be 0.46 +/- 0.32 ml min-1 kg-1. 4. M3G metabolite clearance was 0.46 +/- 0.60 ml min-1 kg-1, the elimination half-life was 11.1 +/- 11.3 h and the volume of distribution was 0.55 +/- 1.13 l kg-1. M6G metabolite clearance was 0.71 +/- 0.36 ml min-1 kg-1, the elimination half-life was 18.2 +/- 13.6 h and the volume of distribution was 1.03 +/- 0.88 l kg-1. 5. No significant effect of the loading dose (50 micrograms kg-1 or 200 micrograms kg-1) on the plasma morphine or metabolite concentrations or their derived pharmacokinetic parameters was found. 6. We were unable to identify correlations between gestational age of the infants and any of the determined pharmacokinetic parameters. 7. M3G: morphine and M6G: morphine steady-state plasma concentration ratios were 11.0 +/- 10.8 and 0.8 +/- 0.8, respectively. 8. The metabolism of morphine in neonates, in terms of the respective contributions of each glucuronide pathway, was similar to that in adults.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Preparative chromatography of furosemide 1-O-acyl-glucuronide from urine using micronized amberiite XAD-2 and its application to other 1-O-acyl-glucuronides.

Furosemide 1-O-acyl glucuronide (Fgnd) was extracted from the urine following oral administration of furosemide. The crude Fgnd was applied to micronized Amberlite XAD-2 column (2.5 cm i.d. x 90 cm length, 75-500 microns particle size). The purified Fgnd was identified by mass spectrometry and beta-glucuronidase treatment. This method was also applicable to the purification of glucuronide of tolmetin (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, NSAID), suggesting that it was applicable to the other NSAIDs, most of which were known to be metabolized to acyl-glucuronides.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide, and 6-monoacetylmorphine determined by means of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry-liquid chromatography in body fluids of heroin victims.

Morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), and 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) were isolated from body fluids using solid-phase extraction and determined by means of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry-liquid chromatography (APCI-LC-MS) in selected ion monitoring mode. The following ions were monitored: m/z 286 for morphine; m/z 286 and 462 for M3G and M6G; m/z 211, 268, and 328 for 6-MAM; and m/z 289 for morphine-d3 (internal standard). The recoveries ranged from 82 to 89% The limits of detection were as follows: 0.1 ng/mL (morphine), 0.5 ng/mL (6-MAM), and 1 ng/mL (M3G and M6G). The analytes were determined in samples taken from 21 heroin-overdose victims. Twenty-one blood samples, 11 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, 12 vitreous humor (VH) samples, and 6 urine samples were investigated. Blood concentrations (ng/mL) of morphine ranged from 8 to 1539, of M3G from 111 to 941, of M6G from 32 to 332, and of 6-MAM from 0 to 73. The levels of morphine were correlated with glucuronide values and with 6-MAM. The concentrations of morphine, M3G, and M6G in CSF were, as a rule, lower than in blood and lower in VH than in CSF. The concentrations of morphine and molar ratios of M6G-morphine in blood and CSF were correlated. Low ratios of M3G-morphine and M6G-morphine in blood of heroin-overdose victims indicated short survival time after drug intake.

Adolescent↗

Quantitation of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide, and morphine-6-glucuronide in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid using solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

An original, sensitive, and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was developed for the quantitation of morphine and its two major metabolites, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in rat plasma, using hydromorphone as the internal standard. Solid-phase extraction was used to separate morphine and its glucuronide metabolites from plasma constituents. Extraction efficiencies of morphine, M3G, and M6G from human plasma samples (0.5 ml) were 84, 87, and 88%, respectively. Extraction efficiencies of morphine, M3G, and M6G did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between human plasma and CSF or rat plasma. Morphine, M3G, M6G, and hydromorphone were separated on a 10 mu C8 Resolve radially compressed cartridge using a mobile phase comprising methanol:acetonitrile:phosphate buffer, (0.0125M pH 7.5; 10:10:80), in which 11 mg/L of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (cetrimide) was dissolved. Quantitation was achieved using a single electrochemical detector at ambient temperature (23 degrees C). Standard curves were linear over the ranges 0.020-2.190, 0.027-2.709, and 0.027-0.542 microM for morphine, M3G, and M6G, respectively. Lower limits of detection for morphine, M3G, and M6G in human plasma and CSF samples (0.5 ml) were 0.020, 0.027, and 0.027 microM, respectively. Corresponding lower limits of detection in rat plasma (0.1 ml) were 0.102, 0.135, and 0.135 microM, respectively. Intraassay precision for low and high concentrations of morphine, M3G, and M6G were < 23 and < 8% respectively. Similarly, interassay accuracy for low and medium concentrations of morphine, M3G, and M6G were < 17% and were < 9% for high concentrations.

Animals↗

Plasma concentrations of morphine, morphine-6-glucuronide and morphine-3-glucuronide and their relationship with analgesia and side effects in patients with cancer-related pain.

Morphine, the recommended drug for the management of moderate to severe cancer pain, is metabolized predominantly to the glucuronides morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) and morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G). The quantitative clinical importance of these metabolites following the administration of oral morphine is unclear. This study investigates the relationship between plasma concentrations of morphine (M), M6G, M3G and clinical effects in patients receiving sustained release oral morphine for cancer-related pain. Peak and trough plasma concentrations of morphine and its metabolites were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). At corresponding time points, pain [Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), Verbal Rating Scales (VRS), Pain Relief Scores (PRS)] and toxicity (VAS and VRS) were assessed. Renal and liver function tests were performed. Forty-six patients were included in the study. There was a significant correlation between dose and both peak and trough plasma M, M6G and M3G (r > 0.60, P < 0.001 for each). Differences between peak and trough M, M6G, M3G, M+M6G, M6G:M, M3G:M and M3G:M6G were all significant (P < 0.001 for each). Pain was generally well controlled in the group, with a median VAS of 15 mm at the peak blood sampling time point. The differences between peak and trough values for VAS pain, VAS nausea and VAS drowsiness were not statistically significant (P = 0.078, 0.45 and 0.099, respectively). There were no differences in peak or trough morphine and metabolite concentrations or ratios between patients with low (< median) or high pain scores. Similarly, there was no significant relationship between high and low plasma concentrations and clinical effect. This study did not identify a simple relationship between plasma concentrations of morphine, morphine metabolites or metabolite ratios and clinical effects in patients with cancer and pain who were receiving chronic oral morphine therapy. Although overall pain control was good, there was marked interpatient variability in the dose of morphine and the plasma concentrations necessary to achieve this degree of analgesia.

Administration, Oral↗

Effects of propylthiouracil on the biliary clearance of thyroxine (T4) in rats: decreased excretion of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine glucuronide and increased excretion of 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine glucuronide and T4 sulfate.

The liver metabolizes T4 by deiodination and conjugation to T4 glucuronide (T4G), but little information exists about the formation of T4 sulfate (T4S) in vivo. We have examined the excretion of T4G, T4S, T3 and rT3 glucuronide (T3G and rT3G) in bile, collected under pentobarbital anesthesia 0-8 h or 17-18 h after iv [125I]T4 injection to control and 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)-treated rats. Radioactivity in bile, plasma, feces, and urine was analyzed by Sephadex LH-20 chromatography and HPLC. PTU induced a 2-fold increase in the biliary excretion of total radioactivity (26.6% vs. 15.0% dose between 0-8 h; 2.0% vs. 1.0% dose between 17-18 h). Biliary metabolites, 17-18 h after T4 injection, in control vs. PTU rats amounted to (percent dose): T4G, 0.44 vs. 0.75; T3G, 0.19 vs. 0.07; rT3G, 0.02 vs. 0.15; and T4S, 0.06 vs. 0.32. Similar results were obtained for control rats when bile was collected between 7-8 h after iv T4. The excretion rate of T3G was lower and that of rT3G higher when bile was continuously collected for 8 h immediately after T4 administration, probably due to prolonged experimental stress. However, regardless of the period of bile collection, PTU induced a more than 24-fold decrease in the T3G/rT3G ratio and a 5-fold increase in T4S excretion. In the animals killed 18 h after T4 injection, PTU treatment increased plasma T4 retention by 50%, reduced urinary I- excretion by 74%, and increased fecal radioactivity by 47%. No conjugates were detected in feces, and the distribution of fecal T4:T3:rT3 was 70:18:2 in control and 68:7:6 in PTU-treated rats. The results indicate that 1) the glucuronidative clearance of T4 is not affected by PTU; 2) the T3G/rT3G ratio in bile is a sensitive indicator of type I deiodinase inhibition; 3) T4 undergoes significant sulfation in rats in vivo, and 4) biliary excretion of T4S is enhanced if its type I deiodination is inhibited.

Animals↗

The effect of chloroform inhalation on hepatic glucuronidation and de-glucuronidation mechanisms.

The effect of 2, 4, 6 or 8 exposures to chloroform vapour on hepatic glucuronidating (UDPGA transferase) and de-glucuronidating (beta-glucuronidase) levels has been studied in rats. Successive treatments progressively decreased hepatic UDPGA transferase to a minimum of 53% of the control level. beta-Glucuronidase activity was increased two-fold after only two exposures and remained elevated for subsequent exposures. Cytochrome P450 levels decreased with each exposure. The level of this coenzyme in the treated animals remained lower than that of the control animals for at least 48 hours after treatment. UDPGA transferase was diminished to its lowest levels 9 hours after the final exposure to chloroform and did not achieve the control value for a further 48 hours. The beta-glucuronidase activity remained elevated for 12 hours after final exposure. The present experiment demonstrates that inhalation of toxic solvents such as chloroform decreases the glucuronidating capacity of the liver.

Animals↗

Sex differences in the excretion of glucuronide conjugates: the role of intrarenal glucuronidation.

Female Fischer 344 rats administered p-nitrophenol (0.05 mmol/kg) excrete more p-nitrophenylglucuronide in the urine than males (35.9 +/- 2.9 vs. 14.1 +/- 4.0% of total urinary metabolites, respectively). In contrast, hepatic microsomes prepared from male rats have higher UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity toward p-nitrophenol than hepatic microsomes from females (6.49 +/- 0.67 vs. 3.20 +/- 0.17 nmol/min/mg of protein, respectively). Sex differences in p-nitrophenylglucuronide excretion may be due to sex differences in either biliary excretion of glucuronide conjugate or in extrahepatic conjugation of p-nitrophenol. UDP-glucuronyl-transferase activity in renal microsomes prepared from male and female rats toward p-nitrophenol was 0.21 +/- 0.09 nmol/min/mg of protein and 0.91 +/- 0.02 nmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. Vmax was greater in females than in males; Km was not sex linked. Similar in vitro sex differences were also observed with 1-naphthol as the aglycone. In contrast, renal microsomes prepared from male or female rats did not glucuronidate morphine. Likewise, no sex differences in the excretion of morphine glucuronide were observed (16.4 +/- 4.8 vs. 23.9 +/- 5.3% of total urinary conjugates from males and females, respectively). Renal conjugation of p-nitrophenol in vivo was determined using the "Specific Activity Difference Ratio" technique. During infusion of 2 mumol/min/kg of p-nitrophenol, 897.9 +/- 26.0 nmol/min/kg of in vivo formed p-nitrophenylglucuronide was excreted in the urine of female rats whereas 715.6 +/- 65.9 nmol/min/kg was excreted in males.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗