Metabolic fate of N6-benzyladenosine and N6-benzyladenosine-5'-phosphate in rats.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/jps.2600680836

The radiolabeled antitumor nucleoside (14C-8)-N6-benzyladenosine and its (14C-8)-5'-phosphate were administered to rats intravenously, and their metabolic fate was studied. Twenty-nine percent of the radioactivity was recovered in the 48-hr urine collection after (14C-8)-N6-benzyladenosine administration. The following metabolites were isolated: unchanged N6-benzyladenosine (20%), adenine (12%), uric acid (5%), and N6-benzyladenine (0.3%). In the case of (14C-8)-N6-benzyladenosine-5'-phosphate, a total of 28% of the radioactivity was recovered in the 48-hr urine collection and the following metabolites were isolated: N6-benzyladenosine (40%), uric acid (12%), adenine (trace), and unidentified urea derivatives (30%). Metabolism of N6-benzyladenosine appears to involve N-debenzylation to some extent, followed by conversion to adenine and uric acid. N6-Benzyladenosine and its 5'-phosphate differ from other adenosine analogs in being retained in significant amounts by the animals.