title: Biological fate of sulphur mustard, 1,1'-thiobis(2-chloroethane): isolation and identification of urinary metabolites following intraperitoneal administration to rat.
abstract: 1. The metabolism of sulphur mustard, 1,1'-thiobis(2-chloroethane), in vivo was investigated following i.p. administration to rat. 2. Approx. 60% of dose was excreted in the 24 h urine. Many metabolites were present; nine have been isolated by h.p.l.c. and characterized by mass spectrometry. Structural assignments were confirmed by comparison with authentic synthetic standards. 3. Some metabolites result from initial hydrolysis of the sulphur mustard, but the majority are formed by conjugation with glutathione. These are further metabolized to N-acetylcysteine conjugates, or to methylthio/methylysulphinyl derivatives by a pathway probably involving beta-lyase, accompanied by oxidation of the mustard sulphur atom to sulphoxide or sulphone. 4. Thiodiglycol sulphoxide, 1,1'-sulphonylbis[2-S(N-acetylcysteinyl)ethane] and 1,1'-sulphonylbis[2-methylsulphinyl)ethane] or 1-methylsulphinyl-2-[2-(methylthio ethylsulphonyl]ethane were the most prevalent metabolites resulting from the three major pathways. Metabolic pathways for the formation of the excretion products are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brewster
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hambrook
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Howells
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008954:Models, Biological; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051381:Rats; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D013454:Sulfoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013454:Sulfoxides; C073450:2,2'-sulfinylbisethanol; C047519:2,2'-thiodiethanol; D003545:Cysteine; D009151:Mustard Gas