Identification of volatile metabolites of inhaled n-heptane in rat urine.

Alkanes, alcohols, and ketones which are metabolized to a gamma-diketone can produce peripheral neuropathy in experimental animals and in man. A study was conducted to obtain information about the metabolic pathway of n-heptane and its potential neurotoxicity. Female Wistar rats were exposed to 2000 ppm n-heptane inhalation for 12 weeks. Metabolites in urine were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Urinary metabolites were quantified following 6-hr n-heptane exposures. n-Heptane metabolites were 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-heptanols, 2- and 3-heptanones, 2,5- and 2,6-heptanediols, 5-hydroxy-2-heptanone, 6-hydroxy-2-heptanone, 6-hydroxy-3-heptanone, 2,5- and 2,6-heptanediones, and gamma-valerolactone. The amount of urinary metabolites increased greatly after the second exposure day, achieving a steady-state concentration on subsequent exposure days over the 12 weeks of the exposure regimen. These results showed that n-heptane was metabolized mainly by hydroxylation at omega- 1 carbon atom and to a lesser extent at the omega- 2 carbon atom. 2-Heptanol, 6-hydroxy-2-heptanone, and 3-heptanol were the major metabolites and were excreted as sulfates and glucuronides. 2,5-Heptanedione, which is a neurotoxic agent, was the metabolite found in least amounts (2.4 +/- 2 micrograms/rat) in the urine. No clinical evidence of neurotoxicity was observed after n-heptane exposure. Apparently, the lack of neurotoxicity was due to a low production of 2,5-heptanedione, the toxic metabolite.