Studies on the metabolism of arylacetic acids. 6. Comparative metabolic conjugation of 1- and 2-naphthylacetic acids in the guinea pig, mouse, hamster and gerbil.

The patterns of metabolic conjugation of the isomeric 1- and 2-naphthylacetic acids have been compared in guinea pig, mouse, hamster and gerbil. Equimolar doses of [carboxy-14C]1- and 2-naphthylacetic acids were given to these species by i.p. injection, their urine collected and urinary metabolites examined by t.l.c. before and after treatment with beta-glucuronidase or mild alkali. 2. Urinary excretion of 14C following administration of 14C-1-naphthylacetic acid was 76-93% of dose in 72 h, the bulk being eliminated in 24 h. Urinary metabolites comprised 1-naphthylacetic-glycine and -glucuronide together with the unchanged acid. 3. Following administration of 14C-2-naphthylacetic acid, some 68-94% of the 14C dose was recovered in the urine in 72 h, with the majority in the 0-24 h urine. All four species excreted 2-naphthylacetyl-glucuronide and -glycine: additionally, 2-naphthylacetyl-taurine was excreted by mouse, gerbil and hamster and the glutamine conjugate was also present in hamster urine.