Metabolism of pravastatin sodium in isolated rat hepatocytes. I. Glutathione conjugate formation reaction.

1. The metabolic fate of pravastatin sodium (sodium (+)-(3R,5R)-3,5-dihydroxy-7-((1'S,2'S,6'S,8'S,8'aR)-6'-hydroxy-2'methyl- 8'-[(S)-2"-methylbutyryloxy]-1',2',6',7',8', 8'a-hexahydro-1'-naphthyl) heptanoate) was studied in isolated rat hepatocytes. 2. Two polar metabolites were isolated and identified as a glutathione conjugate and a dihydrodiol. 3. Both metabolites were formed via an epoxide which has been identified as the 4'a beta,5' beta-epoxide on the decalin moiety. 4. Formation of the glutathione conjugate was enzymic, while the dihydrodiol was formed by non-enzymic hydrolysis of the epoxide accompanied by the intramolecular migration of the double bond.