Excretion and metabolism of a series of xanthines by the turtle Pseudemys scripta elegans

Summary

The xanthines paraxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid are absorbed completely by the turtle Pseudemys scripta elegans and metabolised presumably into CO₂ and NH₃. No intermediate metabolites are excreted. Caffeine, hydroxycaffeine, theobromine, hydroxytheobromine, and hydroxyparaxanthine are absorbed and excreted in different amounts or percentages of the dose administered. Intermediate metabolites of these compounds are not excreted. The turtle Pseudemys scripta elegans may, therefore, be ammonotelic.

Notes

Departments of Clinical Pharmacy and Anesthesiology.

Dotulabs, Weezenhof 3508, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

R.V.V. Kring 6, Wolfskuilseweg 279, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, St. Radboud Hospital, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Correspondence to Dr. T. B. Vree, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sint Radboud Hospital, University of Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 8, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.