Preferential S-sulfonate formation in lung and aorta.

S-sulfonate (S-SO-3) compounds have previously been identified as metabolites of sulfite in the plasma of several species of mammals [6--8]. We now report the formation of non-diffusible and relatively stable S-sulfonates in the aorta and lung lobes of rabbits exposed intravenously to constant arterial sulfite concentrations of approx. 550 microM. Under these conditions the kinetics of S-SO-3 formation were first order with coefficients in the range of 0.3--0.4 h-1 and asymptotic concentrations of approx. 900 and 9000 nmol S-SO-3/g dry wt. of lung and aorta respectively. The kinetics of this reaction in aorta tissue were closely approximated in vitro. Clearance of S-SO-3 from both lungs and aorta appeared to be first order with a half-life of 2--3 days.