The pharmacokinetics of glycopyrrolate in Standardbred horses.

The disposition of plasma glycopyrrolate (GLY) is characterized by a three-compartment pharmacokinetic model after a 1-mg bolus intravenous dose to Standardbred horses. The median (range) plasma clearance (Clp), volume of distribution of the central compartment (V1 ), volume of distribution at steady-state (Vss), and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-inf ) were 16.7 (13.6-21.7) mL/min/kg, 0.167 (0.103-0.215) L/kg, 3.69 (0.640-38.73) L/kg, and 2.58 (2.28-2.88) ng*h/mL, respectively. Renal clearance of GLY was characterized by a median (range) of 2.65 (1.92-3.59) mL/min/kg and represented approximately 11.3-24.7% of the total plasma clearance. As a result of these studies, we conclude that the majority of GLY is cleared through hepatic mechanisms because of the limited extent of renal clearance of GLY and absence of plasma esterase activity on GLY metabolism. Although the disposition of GLY after intravenous administration to Standardbred horses was similar to that in Thoroughbred horses, differences in some pharmacokinetic parameter estimates were evident. Such differences could be attributed to breed differences or study conditions. The research could provide valuable data to support regulatory guidelines for GLY in Standardbred horses.

The pharmacokinetics of methocarbamol and guaifenesin after single intravenous and multiple-dose oral administration of methocarbamol in the horse.

A simple LC/MSMS method has been developed and fully validated to determine concentrations and characterize the concentration vs. time course of methocarbamol (MCBL) and guaifenesin (GGE) in plasma after a single intravenous dose and multiple oral dose administrations of MCBL to conditioned Thoroughbred horses. The plasma concentration-time profiles for MCBL after a single intravenous dose of 15 mg/kg of MCBL were best described by a three-compartment model. Mean extrapolated peak (C0 ) plasma concentrations were 23.2 (± 5.93) µg/mL. Terminal half-life, volume of distribution at steady-state, mean residence time, and systemic clearance were characterized by a median (range) of 2.96 (2.46-4.71) h, 1.05 (0.943-1.21) L/kg, 1.98 (1.45-2.51) h, and 8.99 (6.68-10.8) mL/min/kg, respectively. Oral dose of MCBL was characterized by a median (range) terminal half-life, mean transit time, mean absorption time, and apparent oral clearance of 2.89 (2.21-4.88) h, 2.67 (1.80-2.87) h, 0.410 (0.350-0.770) h, and 16.5 (13.0-20) mL/min/kg. Bioavailability of orally administered MCBL was characterized by a median (range) of 54.4 (43.2-72.8)%. Guaifenesin plasma concentrations were below the limit of detection in all samples collected after the single intravenous dose of MCBL whereas they were detected for up to 24 h after the last dose of the multiple-dose oral regimen. This difference may be attributed to first-pass metabolism of MCBL to GGE after oral administration and may provide a means of differentiating the two routes of administration.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of glycopyrrolate following a continuous-rate infusion in the horse.

Glycopyrrolate (GLY) is an antimuscarinic agent that is used in humans and domestic animals primarily to reduce respiratory tract secretions during anesthesia and to reverse intra-operative bradycardia. Although GLY is used routinely in veterinary patients, there is limited information regarding its pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties in domestic animals, and an improved understanding of the plasma concentration-effect relationship in racehorses is warranted. To accomplish this, we characterize the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) actions of GLY during and after a 2-h constant-rate intravenous infusion (4 µg/kg/h) and evaluate potential PK-PD models for cardiac stimulation in adult horses. Measurements of plasma GLY concentrations, heart and respiration rates, and frequency of bowel movements were performed in six Thoroughbred horses. The time course for GLY disposition in plasma followed a tri-exponential equation characterized by rapid disappearance of GLY from blood followed by a prolonged terminal phase. Physiological monitoring revealed significant (P < 0.01) increases in heart (>70 bpm) and respiratory rates accompanied by a marked and sustained delay in the frequency of bowel movements (1.1 ± 0.2 h [saline group] vs. 6.0 ± 2.0 h [GLY group]). Two of six horses showed signs of colic during the 8-h observation period after the end of the GLY infusion, but were treated and recovered without further complications. The relationship between plasma GLY concentration and heart rate exhibited counterclockwise hysteresis that was adequately described using an effect compartment.

Regulatory control of glycopyrrolate in performance horses using validated UHPLC/MS-MS methods.

We describe a validated, rapid, sensitive, and specific UHPLC-MS/MS method to detect and quantify glycopyrrolate in 0.5 mL of horse urine. Further, we investigated the elimination of glycopyrrolate in urine after both intravenous and oral administration of clinically relevant doses to Thoroughbred horses. Quantification was performed by weighted, linear regression analysis using a deuterated analogue of glycopyrrolate as internal standard (IS). The method was characterized by a linear range of 5-2500 pg/mL, a lower limit of quantification of 5 pg/mL and a limit of detection of 1 pg/mL. The intra and inter-batch imprecisions were <10% RSD and accuracy of the method ranged between 94 and 104%. Glycopyrrolate remained detectable in urine samples collected through 168 h after intravenous administration and through 24h after oral administration. Analytical method validation requirements for linearity, specificity, precision, accuracy, stability, dilution integrity, matrix effect, and ruggedness have been fulfilled. The urine method described in this report is simple and efficient and is the first reported method with sufficient sensitivity, accuracy, and precision to regulate the use of glycopyrrolate in urine samples collected more than one day after dosing of horses. Urine to plasma glycopyrrolate concentration ratios were calculated and were approximately 100:1 in samples collected from 24h through the end of sample collection.

Validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of glycopyrrolate in horse plasma.

A rapid, sensitive, and specific ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with heated electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HESI-MS-MS) method to detect and quantify glycopyrrolate in horse plasma has been developed and validated. We also determined glycopyrrolate in plasma after oral and intravenous administration of clinically relevant doses to Thoroughbred horses. Calibration was accomplished by weighted, linear regression analysis using a deuterated analogue of glycopyrrolate as internal standard (IS). Glycopyrrolate (GLY) and the IS (GLY-d(3)) were isolated from plasma matrices via weak cation exchange using a simple solid-phase extraction technique. Chromatographic analysis was achieved by reversed-phase UHPLC on a C(18) Acquity™ column. Extracts were analyzed in positive electrospray ionization mode and precursor and product ions were detected and quantified by MS-MS using a triple-stage quadrupole (TSQ) instrument. The method was characterized by a linear range of 0.125-25 pg/mL (R(2) > 0.998), a lower limit of quantification of 0.125 pg/mL and a lower limit of detection of 0.025 pg/mL. Recovery of GLY ranged from 78% to 96%, and intra- and interbatch precision were 3.3-14.4%CV and 3.4-14.4%CV, respectively. Glycopyrrolate was stable in plasma for up to 170 days at -80°C, through three freeze/thaw cycles, and for up to 48 h after extraction under 20°C autosampler conditions.