Isocupressic acid [15-hydroxylabda-8(17), 13E-dien-19-oic acid] (1) was incubated under anaerobic conditions for 48 h in an in vitro ruminal fluid mixture and was transformed into two metabolites. The two metabolites were identified by GC/MS as agathic acid [labda-8(17),13(E)-diene-15,19-dioic acid] (4E) and dihydroagathic acid [labda-8(17)-ene-15,19-dioic acid] (6). Metabolite identities were confirmed by chemical conversions of isocupressic acid (1) and imbricataloic acid (5) into 4E and 6, respectively. Structures of synthetic metabolites were confirmed by 1 H and 13 C NMR, specific rotation, GC/MS, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Plasma obtained from cows that were fed Ponderosa pine needles contained (13R,S)-dihydroagathic acid (6) but not isocupressic acid (1) or 4E. The results suggest that isocupressic acid (1) is metabolically oxidized to agathic acid (4E), subsequently reduced to (13R,S)-dihydroagathic acid (6) in the rumen, and then absorbed into the bloodstream of cattle.Premature parturition in cattle due to the ingestion of Ponderosa pine [Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws (Pinaceae)] needles is a major economic problem in the Western United States and Canada. 1 Previous investigations have attempted to isolate and characterize the compounds in P. ponderosa responsible for pine needle abortion. A new class of vasoactive lipids 2 and isocupressic acid 3 [15-hydroxylabda-8(17),13(E)-dien-19-oic acid] (1) were identified as possible causative agents in pine needle abortion in pregnant cows. However, the effects of pine needle ingestion on domestic ruminants such as cattle, Bison, sheep, and goats are variable with regard to the parturition response and/or the presence of vasoconstrictive principles present in plasma samples. [4][5][6] The species differences observed in the pine needle abortion phenomenon may result from variability in the differences in digestive systems among species, from differences of possible metabolic transformations of ingested precursor abortifacient compounds, or from a combination of these factors.Ruminants, including cattle, possess a four-compartment stomach. The largest compartment, the rumen, contains a mixed and variable population of symbiotic microorganisms effective in fermenting fibrous feedstuffs into nutrients usable by the host animal. The environment in the rumen is generally anaerobic, neutral to slightly acidic (between pH 5.5-7.0), and at a temperature between 38 and 41°C. During digestion, the rumen microflora cooperatively catalyze enzymatic transformations of nutrients, fiber, and other ingested substances. Digested materials ultimately pass into the bloodstream of the ruminant animal where they are broadly distributed, bound, further metabolized, and ultimately excreted.The mechanism whereby pine-needle ingestion induces abortion in cattle has been shown to involve a reduction in blood flow to the gravid uterus, resulting in a marked and progressive decrease in nutrients and oxygen available to the fetal calf. 4,7 This is consistent with the observa...