Mercapturic acid conjugates as urinary end metabolites of the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in the rat.

4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), an aldehyde end product of lipid peroxidation in biological systems, is capable of producing a range of powerful biological effects. Despite its biological relevance, the metabolic fate of this aldehyde is unknown in vivo. This study examines the urinary excretion of HNE in the rat and the nature of metabolites formed. Following iv administration of [3H]HNE, the majority of the dose appeared in urine (67.1% after 48 h). The radio-HPLC metabolic profile showed that no unchanged parent compound was detected in urine whereas at least four metabolites were present, most of them corresponding to mercapturic acid conjugates. Two major pathways were involved in the biotransformation of HNE in vivo: (i) reduction/oxidation of the aldehyde group, and (ii) conjugation to endogenous glutathione leading to mercapturic acid conjugates in urine. These end products were isolated by HPLC and identified by mass spectrometry as HNE mercapturic acid, 1,4-dihydroxynonene mercapturic acid, 4-hydroxynonenoic mercapturic acid, and the corresponding lactone.