Enzymic formation of dehydrogenated and hydroxylated metabolites from lysergic acid diethylamide by rat liver microsomes

1. The metabolism of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was studied using rat liver microsomes, and two minor metabolites were obtained in addition to lysergic acid ethylamide and N6-desmethyl-lysergic acid diethylamide (nor-LSD) which were reported previously. 2. One of the metabolites was identified as lysergic acid ethylvinylamide, apparently formed by dehydrogenation of a diethylamide group in the side chain at the 8-position, and the other as the phenol 13-hydroxy-LSD. 3. The formation of both lysergic acid ethylamide and lysergic acid ethylvinylamide was similarly induced by pretreatment of rats with either phenobarbitone sodium or 3-methylcholanthrene, while nor-LSD formation was induced only by phenobarbitone and that of 13-hydroxy-LSD only by methylcholanthrene.