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In vitro rat hepatic microsomal metabolism of the monochlorobiphenyls (MCBs) 2-, 3- and 4-chlorobiphenyl, has been investigated as a model for the metabolism of polychlorinated biphenyl pollutants. MCB metabolism was catalyzed by cytochrome P-450, as indicated by a dependence on NADPH and O(2), inhibition by 2-diethylaminoethyl-2,2-diphenylpropylacetate (SKF 525-A), metyrapone and CO, and the formation of type I difference spectra, on the addition of MCBs to microsomes. All MCBs yielded a 4'-monohydroxy MCB as the major metabolite, as determined by mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dechlorination to 4-hydroxybiphenyl, and high-pressure liquid chromatography retention times. Minor monohydroxy and dihydroxy metabolites were also produced from the MCBs. The regioselectivity of control cytochrome P-450 for metabolism of MCBs at the 4' position was not altered by preinduction of cytochrome P-450 with 2,4,2',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB) or cytochrome P-448 with 3,4,3', 4'-TCB. 2-Chlorobiphenyl was metabolized only by control and induced cytochrome P-450; 3- and 4-chlorobiphenyl were metabolized by control and by induced cytochrome P-450 and P-448. Thus, the regioselectivity of metabolism of MCBs is independent of the chlorine position or the form of the induced cytochrome involved, but the extent of metabolism of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is determined by induction of the hepatic cytochromes P-450.

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The metabolism of the clinically utilized, anticoagulant warfarin [4-hydroxy-3-(3-oxo-1-phenylbutyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one] by rat liver microsomes has been investigated. The structure of a new warfarin metabolite [4-hydroxy-3-(3-oxo-1-phenyl-1-butenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one] (dehydrowarfarin) has been determined by mass spectral comparison with the chemically synthesized compound. The formation of dehydrowarfarin is catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 and is unusual in that the final product is effectively dehydrogenated warfarin.

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