Detection of fenspiride and identification of in vivo metabolites in horse body fluids by capillary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry: administration, biotransformation and urinary excretion after a single oral dose

Abstract

Studies related to the in vivo biotransformation and urinary excretion of fenspiride hydrochloride in the horse are described. After oral administration, the drug is metabolised by both phase I functionalisation and phase II conjugation pathways. Following enzymatic deconjugation, fenspiride and its phase I metabolites were isolated from post-administration biofluids using bonded co-polymeric mixed mode solid-phase extraction cartridges to isolate the basic compounds. Following trimethylsilylation (TMS), the parent drug and metabolites were identified by capillary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Fenspiride ( A) and seven metabolites ( B→ G) arising from oxidation on both the aromatic and heterocyclic substructures were detected in urine. The positive ion electron ionisation mass spectra of the TMS derivatives of fenspiride and its metabolites provided useful information on its metabolism. Positive ion methane chemical ionisation–GC–MS of the derivatives provided both derivatised molecular mass and structural information. Unchanged fenspiride can be detected in post-administration plasma and urine samples for up to 24 h. Maximum urinary levels of 100–200 ng ml −1 were observed between 3 and 5 h after administration. After enzymatic deconjugation, the major phenolic metabolite ( G) can be detected in urine for up to 72 h. This metabolite is the analyte of choice in the GC–MS screening of post-race equine urine samples for detection of fenspiride use. However, a distinct difference was observed in the urinary excretion of this metabolite between the thoroughbred horses used in UK study and the quarterbred and standardbred horses used for the USA administrations.