The metabolism of azidomorphine in the rat.

The metabolism of [7,8-3H]azidomorphine and the in vivo stability of the azidogroup in azidomorphine and 14-hydroxyazidomorphine was studied. Asidomorphine conjugates with glucuronic acid, and is N-demethylated by rat liver microsomes. Detection by means of infrared spectroscopy proved that the azidroup in azidomorphine and 14-hydroxyazidomorphine strongly resists biotransformation in the rat.