Biochemical studies of toxic agents. Metabolic ring-fission of cis- and trans-acenaphthene-1,2-diol

1. The metabolism of cis- and trans-acenaphthene-1,2-diol has been studied after the administration of these compounds to rats by subcutaneous injection and by stomach tube. 2. 1,8-Naphthalic acid has been isolated as its anhydride from the urine of the dosed animals. 3. A spectrophotometric method for the determination of free and conjugated 1,8-naphthalic acid in urine has been developed and has been used in the study of the metabolism of the acenaphthene-1,2-diols. 4. The urine of rats dosed with cis-acenaphthene-1,2-diol by subcutaneous injection was shown by paper chromatography to contain both cis- and trans-acenaphthene-1,2-diol. Similar findings were obtained after the subcutaneous injection of trans-acenaphthene-1,2-diol.