In vivo dephosphorylation of WR-2721 monitored by 31P NMR spectroscopy.

The in vivo dephosphorylation of the radioprotective agent S-2-[3-(aminopropylamino)]ethylphosphorothioic acid (WR-2721) in male CD2F1 mice was measured by 31P NMR spectroscopy after i.p. injection. The disappearance of the WR-2721 phosphate NMR signal with time was concurrent with an increase and splitting of the inorganic phosphate NMR signal. The more acidic inorganic phosphate resonance is shown to be attributed to phosphate (inorganic phosphate) in the urine. Using regression first-order kinetic analysis of data, after i.p. injection of 600 mg/kg, the half-life of WR-2721 was determined to be 40.9 +/- 5.9 (S.D.) min (n = 10).