Determination of ivabradine and its N-demethylated metabolite in human plasma and urine, and in rat and dog plasma by a validated high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection.

A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method with native detection of fluorescence was developed and validated for the quantitation of ivabradine and its N-demethylated metabolite in plasma (rat, dog, human) and human urine. The procedure involves the use of an analogue as internal standard, solid-phase extraction on cyano cartridges, separation on a Nova-Pak C8 column and fluorescence detection. Calibration curves are linear in the concentration ranges from 0.5 to 100 ng/ml in plasma and 2.0 to 500 ng/ml in urine with a limit of quantitation set at 0.5 and 2.0 ng/ml in plasma and urine, respectively. The analysis of plasma and urine samples (spiked with the analytes at low, medium and high concentrations of the calibration range) demonstrates that both analytes can be measured with precision and accuracy within acceptable limits. Quality controls spiked with analyte concentrations up to 10000 ng/ml can also be analysed with excellent precision and accuracy after dilution of the samples. The parent drug and its metabolite are stable in plasma and urine after short-term storage (24 h at room temperature and after three freeze-thaw cycles) as well as after long-term storage at -20 degrees C (at least 6 months in animal plasma and 12 months in human plasma and urine). The method has been used to quantify both compounds in plasma and urine samples from clinical and non-clinical studies with ivabradine.

Determination of S 12024 enantiomers in human plasma by liquid chromatography after chiral pre-column derivatization.

S 12024-2 is a new drug in phase II development that possesses cognitive enhancing properties. As its molecular structure has a chiral centre, a stereoselective method for the analysis of both enantiomers in human plasma has been developed. The method involves pre-column derivatization of the amine moiety with a homochiral reagent (+)-1-(9-fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate (FLEC), and chromatographic separation of the two diastereoisomers on an achiral reversed-phase cyanopropyl column, with fluorimetric detection (lambda ex = 260 nm; lambda em = 310 nm). A liquid-liquid extraction procedure with diethyl ether-dichloromethane (70:30, v/v) was used for sample preparation. This technique provides a linear response for both enantiomers over a concentration range of 10-500 ng ml-1 and the quantitation limit was set at 5 ng ml-1 in human plasma. Within-day and between-day precision and accuracy are within 9% limits for all concentrations assessed. This procedure was therefore used for determining both enantiomers in human plasma following oral administration of racemic S 12024-2 to elderly healthy subjects.

First-pass metabolism of pentamethylmelamine in the rat liver.

The disposition of pentamethylmelamine (PMM) was studied in the male Wistar rat. PMM (5 mg/kg) was administered intraarterially, i.v. (5 and 10 mg/kg), via the portal vein, and into the duodenum to cannulated and unanesthetized rats (n greater than or equal to 4) via infusion. Parent compound and metabolites were quantified by gas chromatography. The areas under the plasma concentration-time curves of PMM after intraarterial and i.v. administration were equal and twice as large as the areas after portal vein and intraduodenal administration. This indicated insignificant lung metabolism for PMM; the low bioavailability of PMM when given via the portal vein or intraduodenally (in both cases, some 50% of an i.v. dose) was the result of presystemic metabolism in the liver. PMM was completely absorbed after intraduodenal administration, and no intestinal metabolism was observed. Linear kinetic behavior of i.v. PMM was observed in the 5- to 10-mg/kg dose range. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve of the first metabolite N2,N2,N4,N6-tetramethylmelamine was significantly greater when PMM was given via the portal vein or intraduodenally than when given intraarterially or i.v. This indicated either extrahepatic elimination/renal excretion of PMM or the existence of an additional metabolic pathway. However, experiments with adrenalectomized rats and rats with ligated blood flow to the kidneys did not alter the area for the first metabolite. These findings may be explained by the formation of unknown metabolites and/or reactive intermediates of PMM.

The area under the curve of metabolites for drugs and metabolites cleared by the liver and extrahepatic organs. Its dependence on the administration route of precursor drug.

The venous equilibrium model (or well-stirred model) is used to determine the area under the blood concentration vs. time curve of a metabolite formed from a precursor drug. It will be shown that the AUC of a metabolite will change according to the route of precursor drug administration(whether intraarterially, intravenously, via the portal vein, or orally) when the drug and/or metabolite is eliminated by more than one organ. Elimination includes hepatic and extrahepatic metabolism and renal excretion. The validity of the model is probed by using literature data for drug and metabolite areas. Finally, the use of metabolite areas for evaluating the complete/incomplete absorption or orally administered precursor drug is discussed.

Low oral bioavailability of hexamethylmelamine in the rat due to simultaneous hepatic and intestinal metabolism.

The disposition of both hexamethylmelamine (HMM) after intraarterial, i.v., portal vein, and intraduodenal administration and of pentamethylmelamine following its i.v. administration was studied in male Wistar rats. HMM (5 and 10 mg/kg) and pentamethylmelamine (5 mg/kg) were infused via implanted cannulas into conscious animals (n greater than or equal to 4). Plasma levels of parent compound and of metabolites were determined by gas chromatography. The areas under the plasma concentration-time curves of HMM following its intraarterial and i.v. administration were not significantly different, indicating that HMM was not appreciably metabolized in the lung. Areas under plasma-concentration-time curves of HMM following portal vein and intraduodenal administration were 27 and 8% of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve after i.v. administration, respectively. Absorption of HMM was complete as judged from metabolite data. The reduced bioavailability of HMM intraduodenally was thus a consequence of presystemic elimination in the liver and the gut wall. Extraction ratios (or first-pass effects) of the liver and the gut wall were 73 and 71%, respectively. Linear kinetic behavior of HMM i.v. was observed in the 5- to 10-mg/kg dose range. Extensive gut wall metabolism may have important implications for the antitumor activity mechanism of HMM.

In vivo O-de-ethylation of phenacetin in 3-methylcholanthrene-pretreated rats: gut wall and liver first-pass metabolism.

By use of a high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure, phenacetin (acetophenetidin) and its O-de-ethylated metabolite paracetamol (acetaminophen), after hydrolysis of paracetamol conjugates, were simultaneously quantified in arterial plasma of both control and 3-methylcholanthrene-pretreated rats after the i.v., portal vein and intraduodenal administration of phenacetin. 3-Methylcholanthrene pretreatment resulted in enhanced phenacetin disposition as was shown from decreased plasma half-life time, decreased oral availability, increased clearance and a raise in metabolite levels. By constructing plasma concentration-time curves and determining the areas under the curves, it was possible to assess liver and gut wall first-pass metabolism. It is concluded that in 3-methylcholanthrene-pretreated rats the intestine contributes significantly, and predominantly over the liver, to phenacetin first-pass metabolism. In contrast, gut wall metabolism in control rats could not be demonstrated.

Influence of administration route and blood sampling site on the area under the curve. Assessment of gut wall, liver, and lung metabolism from a physiological model.

A pharmacokinetic perfusion-limited model has been developed to describe the change of drug concentrations across several eliminating compartments such as lung, liver, and gut wall and a noneliminating central (or blood) compartment. The model holds only for linear kinetics. Using this model, it is possible to assess liver, lung, and gut wall metabolism by comparing areas under the blood concentration vs. time curves after administration of the drug either intra-arterially, intravenously, via the portal vein, or orally (duodenal administration). These comparisons provide a basis to decide whether drug metabolism occurs in the liver and/or extrahepatic tissues and illustrate the effects of different administration routes on these areas. It is also shown that the areas under the blood concentration-time curves are dependent on the blood-sampling site. The model can be helpful, to a limited extent, in relating in vivo determined intrinsic clearances to in vitro obtained enzymatic parameters.

Isolation and identification of mercapturic acids of cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamyl alcohol from urine of female rats.

Rats dosed with cinnamic aldehyde (I) excreted two mercapturic acids in the urine. The major one was identified as N-acetyl-S-(1-phenyl-3-hydroxypropyl)cysteine (V). The minor one was identified as N-acetyl-S-(1-phenyl-2-carboxy ethyl)cysteine (VI). The ratio appeared to be V : VI = 4 : 1. The hydroxy mercapturic acid (V) was also isolated from urine of rats dosed with cinnamyl alcohol (II). The total mercapturic acid excretion as percentage of the dose was 14.8 +/- 1.9% for cinnamic aldehyde (250 mg/kg) (n = 4) and 8.8 +/- 1.7% for cinnamyl alcohol (n = 4) (125 mg/kg). Inhibition of the alcohol dehydrogenase by pyrazole (206 mg/kg) diminished the thioether excretion of cinnamyl alcohol to 3.3 +/- 1.4% of the dose (n = 8). Cinnamic aldehyde has been proposed to be an intermediate in the mercapturic acid formation of cinnamyl alcohol.

Mercapturic acids as metabolites of aromatic aldehydes and alcohols.

After administration of substituted (CH3, OH, OCH3, F, CL, Br, NO2) benzaldehyde or benzyl alcohols in the rat an enhanced urinary thioether excretion was found in some cases. With p-substituted benzaldehyde only occasionally a slight increase could be shown, but with o-substituted aldehydes and alcohols thioether excretions amounted up to 13% of the dose. Mercapturic acids were isolated and identified by synthesis, mass-, and n.m.r.-spectrometry as the arylmethyl thioethers of N-acetylcysteine. Steric hindrance by o-substituents must be the main cause of a relative decrease in oxidation to the carboxylic acid and an increase of the importance of both the reduction of the aldehydes and the reaction of the alcohols, presumably to sulphuric acid esters, as intermediates for the alkylation of glutathione. Consequently, previous administration of pyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, caused an even larger thioether excretion after injection of o-chlorobenzyl alcohol.