Hepatic microsomal metabolism of 1,3-butadiene.

1. In rat liver microsomes, 1,3-butadiene was metabolized to butadiene monoxide, which was subsequently transformed into 3-butene-1,2-diol by microsomal epoxide hydrolase. 2. In the metabolism of butadiene oxide in microsomes, four metabolites were detected, namely two stereoisomers of DL-diepoxybutane, and two stereoisomers of 3,4-epoxy-1,2-butanediol. No meso-diepoxybutane was detected.