Metabolism of harmol and transport of harmol conjugates in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The conjugation of harmol and the disposition of harmol metabolites by isolated rat hepatocytes were investigated. Harmol sulfation was saturated at very low concentrations and exhibited a maximum velocity of 1.2 +/- 0.2 nmol/min/10(6) hepatocytes. Glucuronidation of harmol proceeded with a Km of 17 +/- 5.7 microM and a maximal velocity of 2.1 +/- 0.3 nmol/min/10(6) hepatocytes. After synthesis, harmol glucuronide and harmol sulfate were distributed between cells and incubation media, and at equilibrium, a large concentration gradient between cells and media existed for both conjugates. Experiments with preformed metabolites indicated that hepatocytes removed harmol glucuronide from the incubation media by single Michaelis-Menten process with a Km of 384 +/- 63 microM and Vmax of 1.8 +/- 0.3 nmol/min/10(6) hepatocytes. Harmol sulfate was taken up by two Michaelis-Menten processes, a high affinity process with a Km of 33 +/- 8 microM and a Vmax of 0.97 +/- 0.2 nmol/min/10(6) cells and a low affinity process with a Km of 452 +/- 71 microM and Vmax of 25.2 +/- 4.1/min/10(6) hepatocytes. Harmol sulfate was released from hepatocytes by a process which did not exhibit saturation. Hepatocytes converted preformed harmol glucuronide to harmol sulfate.