Disposition of naproxen, naproxen acyl glucuronide and its rearrangement isomers in the isolated perfused rat liver.

1. An isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL) preparation was used to investigate separately the disposition of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) naproxen (NAP), its reactive acyl glucuronide metabolite (NAG) and a mixture of NAG rearrangement isomers (isoNAG), each at 30 microg NAP equivalents ml perfusate (n = 4 each group). 2. Following administration to the IPRL, NAP was eliminated slowly in a log-linear manner with an apparent elimination half-life (t 1/2) of 13.4 +/- 4.4h. No metabolites were detected in perfusate, while NAG was the only metablolite present in bile in measurable amounts (3.9 +/- 0.8% of the dose). Following their administration to the IPRL, both NAG and isoNAG were rapidly hydrolysed (t 1/2 in perfusate = 57 +/- 3 and 75 +/- 14 min respectively). NAG also rearranged to isoNAG in the perfusate. Both NAG and isoNAG were excreted intact in bile (24.6 and 14.8% of the NAG and isoNAG doses, respectively). 3. Covalent NAP-protein adducts in the liver increased as the dose changed from NAP to NAG to isoNAG (0.20 to 0.34 to 0.48% of the doses, respectively). Similarly, formation of covalent NAP-protein adducts in perfusate were greater in isoNAG-dosed perfusions. The comparative results suggest that isoNAG is a better substrate for adduct formation with liver proteins than NAG.