Metabolism of coumarin by precision-cut calf liver slices and calf liver microsomes.

1. The metabolism of 50 microM [3-14C]coumarin has been studied in precision-cut-calf liver slices. 2. The metabolism of 50 microM coumarin to 7-hydroxycoumarin has also been examined in calf, rat, Cynomolgus monkey and human liver microsomal preparations. 3. In precision-cut calf liver slices, [3-14C]coumarin was metabolized to various polar products and to metabolite(s) that bound covalently to calf liver slice proteins. The polar products included 7-hydroxycoumarin (which was extensively conjugated with D-glucuronic acid and/or sulphate), metabolites of the 3-hydroxylation pathway (mainly o-hydroxyphenylethanol and o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid), and unknown metabolites. 4. Coumarin 7-hydro…