Metabolism of branched medium chain length fatty acid: I—ω-oxidation of sodium dipropylacetate in rats

The metabolism of sodium dipropylacetate (a newly developed anticonvulsant) was investigated in rats, and two metabolites were found in urine of rats which received dipropylacetate. The metabolites were identified as 2-n-propyl-5-hydroxypentanoic acid and 2-n-propylglutaric acid, respectively, by low and high resolution mass spectrometry. Synthetic 2-n-propylglutaric acid, when administered to rats, was not oxidized further and was excreted intact in urine. These data clearly show that ω-oxidation is involved in the metabolism of sodium dipropylacetate and that 2-n-propylglutaric acid, the end product of ω-oxidation, does not serve as a substrate for β-oxidation.