Hybrid information provided by the 14C-aminopyrine breath test. Studies with 14C-monomethylaminoantipyrine in the guinea pig.

N-Demethylation of 14C-aminopyrine (14C-AP), labelled at the methyl groups of the tertiary amino group, yields H14 CHO and 14C-monomethylaminoantipyrine (14C-MMAAP) which also undergoes N-demethylation, however, at a slower rate as measured in hepatic microsomes. As after intraperitoneal application to male guinea pigs of 14C-AP (75 mg/kg; 50 muCi/kg), exhalation rate of 14CO2 declines in a biphasic manner, the hypothesis was tested whether the terminal part might reflect N-demethylation of MMAAP. The application of 14C-MMAAP (70 mg/kg; 10 muCi/kg), resulted in monophasic curves of 14CO2 exhalation rate. Their half lives were, however, longer than terminal half lives obtained after 14CAP. Obviously, this terminal phase does not represent 14CO2 formation from the metabolite MMAAP only, but 14C-AP might still contribute to 14CO2 production. Confirmation was obtained by HPLC determination of AP and MMAAP in serum after injection of AP. Shortly after injection, high concentrations of AP and low ones of MMAAP were found in blood from the portal vein and systemic circulation. Thus, initial parts of 14CO2-exhalation rate curves reflect predominantly AP metabolism whereas later phases provided hybrid information.