Zonisamide (1,2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonamide) was metabolized to its reductive product, 2-sulfamoylacetylphenol, in rat liver microsomes under anaerobic conditions. The rate of NADPH-dependent reaction was much more rapid than that of NADH-dependent reaction. Furthermore, synergistic effect of NADH on NADPH-dependent reaction was not observed. The optimal formation of 2-sulfamoylacetylphenol from zonisamide in the presence of NADPH was observed around pH 7.0. Cimetidine showed an inhibitory effect on the formation of 2-sulfamoylacetylphenol in a dose-dependent manner. The reductive metabolism of zonisamide was almost completely inhibited by carbon monoxide, and was increased by pretreatment of rats with phenobarbital and pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile but not by pretreatment with ethanol, 3-methylcholanthrene and imidazole. These results suggest that phenobarbital- and pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile-inducible form(s) of cytochrome P-450 is responsible for the reductive metabolism of zonisamide to 2-sulfamoylacetylphenol in rat liver microsomes.