The metabolic profile of M17055, a novel diuretic, after administration to experimental animals and after incubation with human liver microsomes was investigated. 1. Extensive metabolism was observed in rats and monkeys and the structures of six metabolites (RU1, RU2, and RU3 from rat urine or liver perfusate; MU1, MU2 and MU3 from monkey urine) were assumed or identified. The clear species difference of metabolism was revealed between rats and a monkey with different structures of the isolated metabolites. 2. When these metabolites were quantified using radioactive material, RU3, RU1 and MU3 were considered to be major metabolites in rat urine, rat bile and monkey urine respectively, while in a dog, unchanged drug was observed as the major component indicating only little metabolism occurred in dog, when administered intravenously. 3. RU1 and RU2 were also generated from [(14)C]M17055 after incubation with human liver microsomes, suggesting that the metabolic pathway of M17055 in humans involves that observed in rats. 4. [(14)C]M17055 metabolism in human liver microsomes was inhibited by CYP2C8/9 and CYP3A4/5 inhibitors, and also by the antibodies that recognize CYP2C8/9/19 and CYP3A4. Significant correlations were observed between the rate of [(14)C]M17055 metabolism and the activity of testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation or tolbutamide methyl-hydroxylation. cDNA-expressed CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 could catalyze the metabolism of [(14)C]M17055. These results suggest that the metabolism of M17055 in human liver microsomes is catalyzed mainly by CYP3A4 and CYP2C9.