Identification of canine urinary metabolites of the antiprotozoal agent 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-3-(1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1,2-benzisoxazole

Urinary metabolites of the antiprotozoal agent cis-3a,4,5,6,7,7a- hexahydro-3-(1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1,2-benzisoxazole in the rat

1H-NMR and MS were employed to identify 13 rat urinary metabolites of 14C-labeled cis-3a,4,5,6,7,7a- hexahydro-3-(1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1,2-benzisoxazole (MK-0436). The major free (unconjugated) metabolite was cis-3a,4,5,6,7, 7a-hexahydro-3-carboxamido-1,2-benzisoxazole; it was also the second most abundant metabolite released during hydrolysis of the conjugated fraction. All other identified metabolites were hydroxylated analogues substituted at C(4)-C(7a) of the cyclohexane ring. the 4-equatorial,5-axial,7a-triol was the second most abundant metabolite excreted in an unconjugated form. Four monohydroxy (5-axial, 6-axial, 6-equatorial, 7-equatorial) metabolites of the drug were identified; they were found in the conjugated fraction only and were released by hydrolysis. The 5-axial hydroxy compound is the major conjugated metabolite and is overall the most abundant of all the metabolites. Six dihydroxy metabolites were identified: one was found exclusively in the free state, three as conjugates only (including the 7-axial,7a-diol, which is the major dihydroxy species), and two both free and conjugated. A second triol was found both free and conjugated.

Effect of liver enzymes on the mutagenicity of nitroheterocyclic compounds: activation of 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-3-(1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)- 1,2-benzisoxazole and deactivation of nitrofurans and nitroimidazoles in the Ames test

The effect of liver enzymes (S9) on the mutagenic response of nitroimidazoles and nitrofurans in the Ames test was evaluated with strain TA100. A diminished response was observed with a 5-nitroimidazole and 5-nitrofurans when the S9 preparation was incorporated in the agar layer. Preincubation with S9 under anaerobic conditions prior to adding the bacteria resulted in a greater and sometimes complete loss of the mutagenic effect. The loss of mutagenic potency was dependent on both incubation time and quantity of the S9 preparation. These results suggest that metabolites formed after reductive metabolism are neither mutagenic (presumably due to the loss of the nitro group) nor capable of activation to mutagenic metabolites. One 5-nitroimidazole, 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-3-(1-methyl-5-nitro -1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1,2-benzisoxazole (MK-0436), gave an increased response in the presence of S9 in both the plate test and when preincubated under aerobic conditions. 7 metabolites were produced by the incubation. 4 monooxygenated metabolites were isolated and found to possess significant mutagenic activity. 2 synthetic dihydroxy analogs were more mutagenic than MK-0436. Similar results were obtained with S9 preparations from human liver and the livers of control, phenobarbital and Aroclor-1254 pretreated rats.