METABOLIC STUDIES ON DERIVATIVES OF -PHENYLETHYLAMINE

¹ Department of Biochemistry, Research Laboratories, The Wm. S. Merrell Co., Cincinnati

1. The principal conclusions of Beyer (2), concerning the deamination of -phenylethylamine derivatives by amine oxidase, have been substantially confirmed.

2. Those compounds which are acted on by amine oxidase are also rather completely metabolized following administration to the rat.

3. Compounds containing a methyl group in the -position are excreted to a considerable extent, from 10 to 65 per cent of the dose.

4. Two substituents in the -position tend to decrease the extent of destruction in the body.

5. Tertiary amines may undergo destruction in the body if no other inhibiting groups are present.

6. Two compounds having a hydroxyl group in the -position were found to be excreted by the rat partially in a bound form. The other compounds investigated appeared in the urine entirely in the free form.

7. The excretion of the N-ethyl-N-methyl--methyl--hydroxy--phenylethylamine (Nethamine) is increased by feeding a diet containing ammonium chloride and decreased by feeding a diet containing sodium bicarbonate.

8. Possible relationships to the deamination of amino acids are discussed.