Site-specific/stable radioiodination of 1,2-Pal-3-IPPA: an agent for the potential clinical evaluation of pancreatic insufficiency by urine analysis.

To measure pancreatic lipase activity, we synthesized a triglyceride containing a radioiodinated fatty acid. The urinary excretion of radioactivity was measured in five rats following administration of the agent by feeding tube. We attached 15-phenylpentadecanoic acid (PPA) to position-3 of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-rac-glycerol (1,2-Pal) to form 1,2-Pal-3-PPA. The 1,2-Pal-3-IPPA (expected lipase substrate) was prepared by the thallation-iodide displacement method. In a dual-label study, the 125I-1,2-Pal-3-IPPA triglyceride was administered with the 131I-IPPA free acid to rats (n = 5) by oral gavage. Urine and feces were collected daily and the tissue distribution of both tracers was evaluated over a five-day period. A significant portion of the administered activity was excreted in 24 hr in the urine (125I, 30.31% + 4.32%; 131I, 35.0% + 7.29%), which cochromatographed with hippuric acid by thin layer chromatography. Release of the acidic components from the conjugated excretory products by acid hydrolysis of the urine provided the radioactive acidic metabolites. Analysis of the Folch extracts of fat samples demonstrated that the radioactive components cochromatographed in the triglyceride region. This agent appears useful for the evaluation of various gastrointestinal diseases.