NEW METABOLITES OF P-TYRAMINE FROM THE URINE OF RATS

Phenolic compounds from the urine of rats which had received injections of p-tyramine were examined by paper chromatography. Three unidentified compounds, namely, two neutral phenols and one acidic phenol, were found to increase in the urine of rats after the injection. The neutral compounds were isolated from the urine by solvent extraction and purified by column chromatography. They were identified as tyrosol (2p-hydropyphenylethanol) and N-acetyltyramine (N-acetyl-2-p-hydroxyphenyltthylamine) by paper- and thin-layer- chromatography. Furthermore, they were identified by their ultraviolet absorption spectra, qualitative reactions and by the synthesis of various derivatives of the isolated compounds. The acidic compound was probably p-hydroxyphenylaceturic acid (N-p-hydroxyphenylacetylaminoacetic acid) beacaused it formed equimolar ampunts of p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and glycine on acid hydrolysis. Compounds which were tentatively identified as tyrosol and N-acetyltyramine were also detected in the urine of untreated rats.