Urinary metabolites of tetrahydronorharmane in the rat

The metabolism of THN in the rat was studied in vivo by use of 14C-radiolabelled compound. Structures of major urinary metabolites were determined by exact spectral data. Their concentrations were measured by liquid scintillation counting. It was found that THN is submitted to endogenous transformation, and that the excreted derivatives form three groups of similar concentration: unchanged substance, hydroxylated/conjugated compounds, and aromatic metabolites. Structures and proposed pathways are summed up in the diagram on the following page.