Metabolism of N-nitrosohexamethyleneimine.

The metabolism of [2-14C]N-nitrosohexamethyleneimine in male MRC-Wistar rats was studied and some of the major urinary metabolites were identified. The extent of total oxidation to 14CO2 was 18.1% in 24 hours and radioactivity incorporation was observed in various tissues; that in the liver was the highest. Analysis of urine after 24 hours showed that 36.7% of the radioactivity administered was excreted by this route, with a minimum of 11 products present. Hexamethyleneimine (HX), epsilon-caprolactam, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, and 6-aminocaprohydroxamic acid were the identified metabolites. Of the remaining products, two appeared to result from HX metabolism and one was a glucuronide conjugate. No parent compound was found.