Biochemical studies of toxic agents. The metabolism of 1- and 2-bromopropane in rats

Abstract

1. (+)-n-Propylmercapturic acid sulphoxide, i.e. (+)-N-acetyl-S-n-propyl-l-cysteine S-oxide, was prepared as the dicyclohexylammonium salt, (-)-n-propyl-mercapturic acid sulphoxide was prepared as the free acid, and S-isopropyl-l-cysteine and isopropylmercapturic acid were also prepared. 2. The metabolism of 1- and 2-bromopropane was studied by radiochromatographic examination of the urine excreted by rats that had been fed with a diet containing (35)S-labelled yeast and then injected subcutaneously with these compounds. In addition to n-propyl-mercapturic acid and 2-hydroxypropylmercapturic acid, the excretion of which has already been reported, n-propylmercapturic acid sulphoxide was shown to be a metabolite of 1-bromopropane. Sulphur-containing metabolites of 2-bromopropane, if present in the urine at all, were there in very small amounts. 3. n-Propylmercapturic acid and isopropylmercapturic acid were isolated from the urine of rats that had been injected subcutaneously with S-n-propyl-l-cysteine and S-isopropyl-l-cysteine respectively.