Phenotyping of N-acetyltransferase 2 in male volunteers by HPLC.

ABSTRACT The N-Acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) polymorphism is one of the most common inherited variations in the biotransformation of drugs and chemicals and large number of studies has been done to determine the distribution of NAT2 acetylator phenotypes among populations of different geographic origins. The aim of this study was to investigate the acetylator phenotype of the healthy male subjects of Pakistani population. The polymorphic acetylation of sulphamethazine has been investigated in male volunteers (n=50) of Pakistani population. 500 mg Sulphamethazine was administered orally in capsule form to each volunteer. Sulphamethazine and acetylsulphamethazine were determined in the six hour plasma samples by reversed phase HPLC assay. Acetylator phenotype was determined from the metabolic ratio of acetylsulphamethazine to sulphamethazine in the plasma samples. The acetylation of sulphamethazine by NAT2 showed bimodal population frequency distribution. About 62% of the male volunteers were fast and 38% were slow acetylators. Data revealed that studied population is the fast acetylator by NAT2 enzyme. © 2011 Friends Science Publishers