THE ABSORPTION AND EXCRETION OF DROMORAN ’ 2

Dromoran4 (3-hydroxy-N-methyl morphinan) has proven effective as a clinical analgetic agent (Zager et al., 1949). In view of the close similarity of structure to morphine, it was felt that a comparative analysis of the excretion of Dromoran by normal and tolerant dogs would prove of interest-. Furthermore, since Dromoran has optical isomers with differing pharmacological properties (From-herz, 1951), the excretion of optical isomers and racemic mixtures were compared. Other phases of the study include analysis of blood plasma levels, the rate of absorption after oral administration and the enzymatic hydrolysis of conjugated Dromoran. Procedure for colorimetric determination of Dro?noran. The colorimet-ric technique used was a modification of the methyl orange method for basic amines developed by Brodie, Udenfriend and Dill (1947). However, it was found impossible with the ordinary Brodie technique to eliminate the blank from normal urine samples and the following modifica-tion was devised. Aliquots of 10 and 20 ml. were taken from a 24-hour collection of uncontaminated urin