The formation of metabolites of mephentermine by microsomal and cytosolic preparations of male Wistar rat livers.

1. Metabolites of mephentermine (MP), phentermine (Ph), p-hydroxy-MP, p-hydroxy-Ph, N-hydroxy-MP and N-hydroxy-Ph on incubation with rat liver microsomal and cytosolic preparations were identified by g.l.c. and g.l.c.-mass spectrometry. 2. Identification of the metabolites indicated the following new metabolic routes of MP: NADPH-dependent microsomal formation of p-hydroxy-MP from MP, of p-hydroxy-Ph from p-hydroxy-MP, and the NADH-dependent microsomal formation of Ph from N-hydroxy-Ph.