Table 2

Quantitation of nicotine and metabolites in brain 4 hr after sc injection of S-(−)-[3H-methyl]nicotine and (±)-[2′-14C]nicotine in rats

Radiolabeled NicotineN2-a% of Radiolabeled in Brain (pmol)2-b
Peak A2-cNicotineNornicotineCotinineNorcotininePeak B2-c
S-(−)-[3H-N-methyl]Nicotine2-d 531.1  ± 2.972-c 29.2  ± 5.630.0  ± 0.039.6  ± 3.890.0  ± 0.00.0  ± 0.0
(0.16  ± 0.02)(0.17  ± 0.05)(0.0  ± 0.0)(0.20  ± 0.01)(0.0  ± 0.0)(0.0  ± 0.0)
(±)-[14C-2′]Nicotine2-d 40.0  ± 0.024.2  ± 2.9415.1  ± 2.5460.8  ± 0.63—2-e 0.0  ± 0.0
(0.0  ± 0.0)(155.7  ± 33.8)(92.0  ± 11.9)(381.1  ± 46.0)(0.0  ± 0.0)
(±)-[14C-2′]Nicotine2-f 40.0  ± 0.014.2  ± 3.3016.5  ± 2.0462.9  ± 5.274.15  ± 0.482.33  ± 0.12
(0.0  ± 0.0)(94.9  ± 30.1)(109.1  ± 28.7)(390.0  ± 30.4)(27.4  ± 7.0)(14.7  ± 1.7)

  • ↵2-a N, number of animals/group.

  • ↵2-b Values are means ± SEM.

  • ↵2-c Assumes stoichiometric transfer of radiolabel.

  • ↵2-d Partisil SCX chromatography.

  • ↵2-e Not detected due to coelution with cotinine.

  • ↵2-f Partisil C8 chromatography.