Species differences in urinary butadiene metabolites: comparisons of metabolite ratios between mice, rats, and humans

We have previously identified two metabolites, 1,2-dihydroxy-4-(N-acetylcysteinyl-S-)-butane (M-I) and 1-hydroxy-2-(N-acetylcysteinyl-S-)-3-butene (M-II) in the urine of mice, rats, hamsters, and monkeys exposed by inhalation to 8000 ppm [14C]butadiene. The sum of these two metabolites constituted between 50 and 90% of the total urinary [14C]butadiene equivalents. When comparing species, the ratios of excreted M-I relative to the total of M-I + M-II were linearly related to hepatic epoxide hydrolase activities, with mice displaying the lowest ratios and monkeys displaying the highest ratios. Because humans are known to have epoxide hydrolase activities more similar to those of monkeys than mice, we postulated that after inhalation of butadiene, humans would excrete predominantly M-I and little M-II. To address this hypothesis, we measured the two metabolites in the urine of workers occupationally exposed to butadiene. We initially developed an assay to measure the two metabolites in urine using techniques not dependent on radiolabeled compounds. The assay is based on isotope-dilution gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. After addition of deuterated internal standards, the metabolites were isolated from urine samples by solid-phase extraction and selective precipitation. The metabolites were converted to volatile derivatives by trimethylsilylation prior to analysis. The assay is sensitive down to at least 100 ng/ml of both metabolites in urine. The assay was applied to urine samples of humans occupationally exposed to butadiene in a production plant. M-I, but not M-II, could be readily identified and quantitated in the urine samples at levels frequently greater than 1 microgram/ml, thus supporting our hypothesis. Employees who worked in production areas with historical atmospheric concentrations of 3-4 ppm butadiene could be distinguished as a group from those outside controls. Finally, mice and rats were exposed to 11.7 ppm butadiene for 4 hr, and the ratio of the two metabolites was measured. For mice, the ratios of M-I to M-I + M-II were similar to those reported previously following exposure to 8000 ppm. In contrast, for rats, M-I represented a higher proportion of the excreted metabolites at the lower exposure level. These results confirm earlier in vitro studies that suggested the predominant pathway for clearance of BDO in humans is by hydrolysis rather than direct conjugation with glutathione.