Evidence for metabolism of N-nitrosoproline

The metabolism of nitrosoproline (NPRO) was re-investigated in uni- and bilaterally nephrectomized rats that have reduced or absent ability to excrete urine. About 1% of the administered radioactivity from L-[U-14C]-NPRO appeared as 14CO2 in the expired air and the production of 14CO2 was time-dependent over a period of 23 h. As compared with sham-operation, uni- or bilateral nephrectomy did not significantly increase the amount of NPRO metabolism, though urinary excretion of radioactivity was decreased in the unilaterally nephrectomized animals. In microsome-mediated and in vitro enzyme-free (Udenfriend-hydroxylating) systems covalent binding of [2,3,4,5-3H]NPRO to exogenous calf thymus DNA was demonstrated. The above findings confirm that in vivo metabolism of NPRO is possible, albeit, to a very small extent.