Species differences in the in vitro metabolic reduction of the amphetamine metabolite, 1-phenyl-2-propanone.

Marked differences were observed, in the ability of fortified 9000 g liver homogenate supernatants from three species to reduce 1-phenyl-2-propanone to the corresponding alcohol. This metabolic keto-reduction was negligible in homogenates from the rat and extensive in the rabbit; guinea-pig liver homogenates had intermediate ability. Metabolic oxidation of 1-phenyl-2-propanol was negligible in all three species. The amount of deamination of amphetamine and of N-n-propylamphetamine was approximately equal, in vitro, in rats and guinea-pigs but two to three times greater in liver homogenates from rabbits. Approximately three times more deaminated products were formed from the in vitro metabolism of N-n-propylamphetamine than from amphetamine metabolism by all three species.