Identification of a cis-2-butene-1,4-dial-derived glutathione conjugate in the urine of furan-treated rats

The hepatocarcinogen and toxicant furan requires metabolic activation to elicit its toxic effects. The available experimental evidence indicates that the overall metabolism of furan is initiated via cytochrome P450 catalyzed oxidation to cis-2-butene-1,4-dial. This α,β-unsaturated dialdehyde reacts in vitro with protein and DNA nucleophiles. To determine if this compound is an in vivo intermediate in the metabolism of furan, rats were treated with either [¹²C₄]furan or [¹³C₄]furan, and urine was collected for 24 h. Capillary LC/MS/MS analysis of the urine indicated that one of the metabolites was a monoglutathione conjugate of cis-2-butene-1,4-dial. These results indicate that glutathione conjugation of the reactive metabolite of furan occurs in vivo. This metabolite may serve as a useful marker for furan exposure and metabolism in risk assessment studies.