Methaqualone metabolism by rat liver microsomes.

A rat hepatic microsomal system has been established which metabolizes methaqualone. The microsomes are obtained from livers of rats treated with phenobarbital. The methaqualone is dissolved in polyethylene glycol-200 prior to addition to the incubation mixture. A comparison is made between the metabolites obtained in this in vitro system and metabolites obtained from urines of phenobarbital treated rats injected with methaqualone. The same two and sometimes three metabolites, as determined by thin layer and gas liquid chromatography, were found in both the complete microsomal incubation system and the urines.