The metabolism of D- and L-pipecolic acid in the rabbit and rat.

The metabolism of D- and L-pipecolic acid has been investigated in rabbits and rats. A rapid evolution of 14CO2 followed the injection of either D- or L-pipe[6-14C]colic acid into rabbits. Rabbit kidney slices degraded to CO2 both isomers of lysine and of pipecolic acid. Rabbit liver was effective with only the L-isomers. In the rat, very little of injected L-pipecolic acid was catabolized to CO2, and large amounts were excreted unchanged into the urine, L-Lysine was efficiently metabolized to CO2 by rat liver and kidney slices but not D-lysine or either isomer of pipecolic acid. Rat kidney converted D-lysine to L-pipecolic acid. The L-isomer was identified by co-precipitation of the radioactive product with authentic compounds.