Metabolism of ticlopidine in rats: identification of the main biliary metabolite as a glutathione conjugate of ticlopidine S-oxide.

We have identified several novel metabolites of ticlopidine, a well known antiplatelet agent and have revealed its metabolic route in rats. The main biliary metabolite of ticlopidine was characterized as a glutathione (GSH) conjugate of ticlopidine S-oxide, in which conjugation had occurred at carbon 7a in the thienopyridine moiety. Quantitative analysis revealed that 29% of the dose was subjected to the formation of reactive intermediates followed by conjugation with GSH after oral administration of ticlopidine (22 mg/kg) to rats. In vitro incubation of ticlopidine with rat liver 9000 g supernatant fraction (S9) fractions led to the formation of multiple metabolites, including 2-oxo-ticlopidine, the precursor for the pharmacologically active ticlopidine metabolite, [1-(2-chlorobenzyl)-4-mercaptopiperidin-(3Z)-ylidene] acetic acid. A novel thiophene ring-opened metabolite with a thioketone group and a carboxylic acid moiety has also been detected after incubation of 2-oxo-ticlopidine with rat liver microsomes or upon incubation of ticlopidine with rat liver S9 fractions.