title: Acidic metabolites of pseudocumene in rabbit urine.
abstract: In order to identify biological indicators of exposure to trimethylbenzenes, the metabolism of pseudocumene (1,2,4-trimethylbenzene) was investigated in rabbits. After oral administration of this compound, urine was collected for several days and analyzed for the presence of acidic metabolites. Isolation techniques included steam-distillation, direct extraction of urine by ethyl acetate, preparative thin-layer and column chromatography of the extract. The metabolites were identified by microanalysis, followed by TLC, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Two major urinary metabolites were identified namely 2,4-dimethylbenzoic acid and 3,4-dimethylhippuric acid. The presence of these acidic metabolites in urine is a good indication of exposure to pseudocumene.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D001565:Benzoates / Q000652:urine*; D006626:Hippurates / Q000652:urine*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D011817:Rabbits; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014992:Xylenes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D001565:Benzoates; D006626:Hippurates; D014992:Xylenes; C028524:3,4-dimethylhippuric acid; C010313:pseudocumene; C028523:2,4-dimethylbenzoic acid