Identification of cytochrome P450 3A1/2 as the major P450 isoform responsible for the metabolism of fentanyl by rat liver microsomes

The metabolism of fentanyl was investigated using rat liver microsomes to determine whether fentanyl is metabolized by rat liver microsomal cytochrome P450 and, if so, which isoform is responsible for the metabolism. Microsomes isolated from rats pretreated with phenobarbital were more active in metabolizing fentanyl than were microsomes from saline controls. The major metabolic pathway of fentanyl was an oxidative N-dealkylation to norfentanyl, which was detected by a gas chromatograph-mass selective detector (GC-MSD) method. The apparent V(m) values for microsomes isolated from saline- and phenobarbital-treated rats were 2 and 9 nmol norfentanyl · min^-1 · mg^{- 1} microsomal protein, and the apparent K(m) values were 32 and 47 μM, respectively. Fentanyl metabolism was inhibited by antibodies specific for CYP3A1/2, as well as by chemical inhibitors specific for CYP3A. These results indicate that CYP3A1/2 plays a major role in the oxidation of fentanyl to norfentanyl by rat liver microsomes.