Renal aminopyrine demethylation in several species determined by a sensitive radiometric method

Renal microsomal aminopyrine demethylation activities of several species were measured by a sensitive radiometric method using [dimethylamino-14C-]aminopyrine as a substrate and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine as a trapping agent for the formaldehyde formed. The activity was highest in hamsters (0.75 nmol min-1 mg-1 protein) and that in rabbits, rats, mice, and guinea-pigs was 19.7, 7.0, 4.5 and 3.7%, respectively, of the hamster values. These species differences did not correlate with species differences in cytochrome P-450 content or in NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity. Aminopyrine demethylation activities in sliced renal tissues of several species were also compared. This activity was also found highest in hamsters (0.54 nmol min-1 g-1 wet tissue) and the activities in rabbits, rats, and guinea-pigs were 9.2, 1.8 and 2.5%, respectively, of the hamster values.