Identification of Three Sulphur-containing Urinary Metabolites of Styrene in the Rat

Abstract
1. After administration of styrene (I) to rat, three sulphur-containing urinary metabolites were isolated in the molar ratio of III: IV: V equal to 65: 34: 1. 2. These metabolites were identified as N-acetyl-S-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxy-ethyl)cysteine (III), N-acetyl-S-(2-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)cysteine (IV) and N-acetyl-S-(phenacyl)cysteine (V). 3. After a single dose (250 mg/kg, 2·4 mmol/kg) of styrene, the totally excreted mercapturic acids in the urine amounted to 10·7 ± 1·0% (n = 5) of the dose.