Pharmacokinetic study in rats after single intravenous and oral administrations of [14C]-ITF-296.

Pharmacokinetics of [14C]-ITF-296 and its metabolites, ITF-1124 and ITF-1577, were studied in rats after a single intravenous (2.5 mg/kg) and oral (10 mg/kg) administration. Radioactivity was measured by LSC while unchanged drug and its metabolites in plasma were assayed by an HPLC-UV method. The absorption of [14C]-ITF-296 after oral administration is practically complete. Elimination of radioactivity occurs mainly in urine (higher than 80%) and the recovery of the dose (higher than 95%) takes place up to 96 h after both treatments. Both by i.v. and p.o. route the results show that the radioactivity is largely excreted in the bile and reabsorbed in the intestine. The tissue distribution study indicates that there is no accumulation or localization of radioactivity in the major organs or blood and no radioactivity levels are found 96 h after either treatment. In addition, whole body autoradiography confirms the tissue distribution pattern, showing no differences between albino and pigmented rats.

14C-NaVP and 14C-PEV repeated dose study in rat. Pharmacokinetic study in rats after repeated oral administrations of 14C-valproic acid sodium salt and 14C-valproic acid pivaloyl oxymethyl ester.

The absorption, excretion and tissue distribution of radioactivity after repeated oral equimolar doses of 14C-valproic acid sodium salt (NaVP) or 14C-valproic acid pivaloyl oxymethyl ester (PEV) was investigated in male rats treated once a day for 14 consecutive days. The 14th day plasma time-course of radioactivity after PEV administrations was characterised by a slow absorption rate with a delayed peak (tmax 2 h, Cmax 7.52 +/- 1.35 microg eq./ml), followed by a plateau lasting up to 8 h. After NaVP treatment, the main peak of radioactivity was observed 0.5 h after administration (Cmax 8.30 +/- 1.26 microg eq./ml) followed by a secondary peak due to biliary enterohepatic recycling. Starting from 4 h onwards, radioactivity levels after PEV treatment were higher than those after NaVP (AUCtau = 113.3 h.microg eq./ml after PEV vs 71.9 h.microg eq./ml after NaVP), but concentrations declined with similar terminal half-lives (52.8 h for PEV and 49.7 h for NaVP). Radioactivity recovered (0-432 h interval) in urine accounted for 79.3% (PEV) and 56.1% (NaVP) while, in faeces accounted for 9.1% (PEV) and 26.1% (NaVP) of total administered dose (14 days). The difference is attributable to a higher excretion of radioactivity in the bile for NaVP. The missing fraction in the total radioactivity balance is probably excreted in expired air, as observed in single dose studies. Radioactivity excreted in bile (0-8 h interval of the last 14th day) accounted for 5.1% (NaVP) and 0.23% (PEV) of the total administered dose (14 days). A possible explanation of this difference may be a different metabolism pattern for the two compounds. The negligible biliary excretion observed after PEV administration is probably due to an inhibition of the glucuronation of valproic acid (or other metabolites) caused by the pivalic acid. Due to the presence of the enterohepatic recycle, the radioactivity levels in intestine, 0.5 and 2 h after administration, were higher after NaVP administration. According to higher plasma levels, the radioactivity concentrations in liver, kidneys and some fat tissues were found to be slightly higher after PEV administration. At 120 h after the last treatment of both compounds, relevant tissue concentrations were observed in mesenteric lymphnodes, perirenal and brown fat. The tissue-plasma radio activity ratio appeared quite similar for the two compounds.

Pharmacokinetic study in dogs and monkeys after single intravenous and oral administrations of [14C]-ITF-296.

Pharmacokinetics of [14C]-ITF-296 and its metabolites, ITF-1124 and ITF-1577, were studied in dogs and monkeys after a single intravenous (2.5 mg/kg) and oral (10 mg/kg) administration. Radioactivity was measured by LSC while unchanged drug and its metabolites in plasma were assayed by an HPLC-UV method. The absorption of [14C]-ITF-296 after oral administration is practically complete both in dogs and in monkeys. The determination of unchanged drug and its metabolites shows quite a similar profile in dogs and monkeys for ITF-296 and ITF-1124 and a different time-course for ITF-1577. Elimination of radioactivity occurs mainly in urine (namely 70-80%) for both species and the recovery of the dose (higher than 90%) takes place up to 96 h after both treatments.

Simultaneous determination of atenolol and chlorthalidone in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography. Application to pharmacokinetic studies in man.

An HPLC method developed to detect in a single run both atenolol and chlorthalidone, extracted from plasma, using two detectors (UV for chlorthalidone and fluorometric for atenolol) connected in series, is described. The drugs were separated on an ODS column at room temperature using a 0.05 M sodium dodecyl sulphate in phosphate buffer (pH 5.8)-n-propanol (95:5, v/v) solution, delivered at a flow-rate of 1.3 ml/min. Having ascertained the sensitivity (10 ng/ml of both drugs) and the intra-day reproducibility (pre-study validation), the reliability of the method was verified by inter-day assays (within-study validation) carried out during the analysis of plasma samples collected from healthy volunteers after single-dose treatment with atenolol+chlorthalidone tablets (pharmaceutical preparations containing 100+25 mg and 50+12.5 mg of the two drugs, respectively).

Determination of selenium in plasma, urine and tissues, of standard diet-fed rats and dogs by ETA-atomic absorption spectroscopy with Zeeman background correction.

The method described was developed to be applied in determination of selenium in biological matrices (plasma, urine and tissues) using ETA-AAS with Zeeman background correction. These matrices were obtained from non-fasting S.D. rats and Beagle dogs of both sexes in order to acquire data on the endogenous levels of selenium in these laboratory animals when fed with standard diets. For tissue digestion, a simple procedure using the strong organic base, Soluene 350, was adopted. Precision assays were carried out monitoring Se(IV) levels in spiked matrices (range from 25 to 200 ng) and obtaining relative standard deviations (RSD%) in the range from 3.2% to 14.5% (intra-day) and from 7.6% to 15.9% (inter-day). Accuracy assays gave relative errors (RE%) in the range from -6.5 to 4.2% (intra-day) and from -5.5% to 5.7% (inter-day). The validity of the method was checked on reference material (NBS SRM 1577 bovine liver) and the values obtained correlated with the certified ones. The detection limit assumed was 0.9 ng/ml, whereas the quantitation limit of selenium in matrices ranged from 2 to 5 ng/ml (or g), depending on the kind of sample.

Pharmacokinetics of recombinant human luteinizing hormone after intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous administration in monkeys and comparison with intravenous administration of pituitary human luteinizing hormone.

To assess the pharmacokinetics of recombinant human LH (rhLH) in monkeys, we measured serum LH levels after single iv injection and after single and repeated doses by the im or sc route. A single iv bolus of 400 IU/kg rhLH or pituitary hLH (phLH) in six cynomolgus monkeys resulted in parallel concentration-time curves. The initial and terminal half-lives of rhLH (0.8 and 11 h) were comparable to those of phLH (0.6 and 10 h). The serum levels of phLH were consistently higher due to the fact that the immunological dose of phLH was higher. Administration of increasing iv doses of rhLH (10, 63, and 400 IU/kg) to six monkeys showed that the pharmacokinetics are linear over this dose range. The total clearance for the two higher doses was 0.03 L/h.kg. Systemic bioavailability was 50% after a single sc injection of 400 IU/kg and 61% after a single im injection of the same dose. The peak concentration (180 IU/L) after im injection was reached after 2.7 h. This was higher and sooner than after sc injection (110 IU/L after 5.3 h). The terminal half-life by both routes was similar to that seen after iv injection (11 h). Daily sc or im administration of 63 IU/kg for 7 days confirmed these findings. There was no accumulation of rhLH. Some monkeys developed antibodies, especially after repeated administration. They were excluded from the analysis. No significant local or systemic adverse events occurred.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry determination of etodolac in human plasma following single epicutaneous administration.

A highly sensitive gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the determination of etodolac acid, as methyl ester, in plasma was developed. The feasibility and specificity of the method was ascertained monitoring the concentration levels in plasma samples collected from 12 male healthy volunteers given epicutaneously 5 g of 10% etodolac gel formulation.

Pharmacokinetics of glucosamine in man.

The pharmacokinetics of glucosamine sulfate (CAS 29031-19-4) was investigated in 6 healthy male volunteers (2 per administration route) using 14C uniformly labelled glucosamine sulfate and administering it in single dose by intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) or oral route. The results show that after i.v. administration the radioactivity due to glucosamine appears in plasma and is rapidly eliminated, with an initial t1/2 of 0.28 h. 1-2 h after administration the radioactivity due to glucosamine disappears almost completely and is replaced by a radioactivity originating from plasma proteins, in which glucosamine or its metabolites are incorporated. This radioactivity reaches a peak after 8-10 h and then declines with a t1/2 of 70 h. About 28% of the administered radioactivity is recovered in the urine of the 120 h following the administration and less than 1% is recovered in the feces. After i.m. administration similar pharmacokinetic patterns are observed. After oral administration a proportion close to 90% of glucosamine sulfate is absorbed. Free glucosamine is not detectable in plasma. The radioactivity incorporated in the plasma proteins follows pharmacokinetic patterns which are similar to those after i.v. or i.m. administration, but its concentration in plasma is about 5 times smaller than that after parenteral administration. The AUC after oral administration is 26% of that after i.v., or i.m. administration. The smaller plasma levels of radioactivity after oral administration are probably due to a first pass effect in the liver which metabolizes a notable proportion of glucosamine into smaller molecules and ultimately to CO2, water and urea.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pharmacokinetics of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone after intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous administration in monkeys, and comparison with intravenous administration of urinary follicle stimulating hormone.

Recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH; Gonal-F) is a new human FSH produced by a genetically engineered mammalian cell line (Chinese Hamster Ovary cells). To assess and compare its pharmacokinetics with urofollitropin (u-hFSH; Metrodin), extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women, we performed a cross-over study in 12 monkeys. They received 10 IU/kg iv of u-hFSH and r-hFSH. Then all received a single 10 IU/kg dose im and sc of r-hFSH. In the third phase, six monkeys received 10 IU/kg/day im of r-hFSH for 7 days when the six others received the same regimen subcutaneously. Blood was withdrawn at predetermined time points, and FSH serum concentrations were measured by an immunoenzymetric assay. Data were analyzed individually by fitting a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model for the intravenous routes and a one-compartment first-order absorption model for the intramuscular and subcutaneous routes. After intravenous administration of u-hFSH and r-hFSH, mean FSH concentration-time curves were almost parallel. AUC0-infinity was significantly smaller after r-hFSH (846 IU.hr-1/liter +/- 125) than after u-hFSH (1377 IU.hr-1/liter +/- 236) (p < 0.005; analysis of variance), because the u-hFSH immunological dose was greater (8.77 IU/kg) than the r-hFSH immunological dose (6.94 IU/kg). Thus total clearance for r-hFSH (0.008 liter/hr/kg +/- 0.001) and for u-hFSH (0.007 liter/hr/kg +/- 0.001) was almost similar. Distribution half-lives (1.5 hr +/- 0.1 and 1.8 hr +/- 0.4) and terminal half-lives (15.3 hr +/- 3.8 and 15.5 hr +/- 5.1) for r-hFSH and u-hFSH were similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparative bioavailability of Silipide, a new flavanolignan complex, in rats.

The comparative pharmacokinetics of Silipide (IdB 1016, a silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex) and silybin were investigated by measuring unconjugated and total plasma silybin levels as well as total biliary and urinary silybin excretion in rats following administration of a single oral dose (200 mg/kg as silybin). Mean peak levels of unconjugated and total silybin after IdB 1016 were 8.17 and 74.23 micrograms/ml respectively. Mean AUC (0-6 h) values were 9.78 and 232.15 h.micrograms.ml-1 indicating that about 94% of the plasma silybin is present in a conjugated form. After administration of silybin, plasma levels of both unconjugated and total compound were under the analytical detection limit. Cumulative biliary (0-24 h) and urinary (0-72 h) excretion values after administration of IdB 1016 accounted for 3.73% and 3.26% of the administered dose, respectively. After silybin administration, the biliary and urinary excretion accounted for only 0.001% and 0.032% of the dose respectively. Our results indicate a superior bioavailability of silybin administered orally as IdB 1016. This was due mainly to an impressive increase in gastrointestinal absorption.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of ethyl carbamate as the xanthylamide derivative in Italian aqua vitae (grappa) samples.

A selective reaction of ethyl carbamate (urethane) and methyl urethane (urethylane), as internal standard, with xanthydrol was effected to detect urethane after extraction from Italian aqua vitae (grappa) samples. The xanthylamides formed were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode on an apolar DB 5 silica column. The linearity of the method was tested from 10 to 1000 micrograms/l, with a detection limit of 1 micrograms/l.

Linearity of levodropropizine, a new antitussive drug, in the healthy volunteer.

The object of this study was to determine whether the pharmacokinetics of levodropropizine were linear. Twelve healthy adult male volunteers received oral doses use of 30, 60 and 90 mg of levodropropizine. A cross-over design was used. With the exception of Cmax, and AUC the pharmacokinetics of levodropropizine in the dose range studied are similar. The relationship between the doses and AUCs and the statistical comparison of AUCs (Anova test and Westlake test) confirm that in the range 30-90 mg the plasma pharmacokinetics of levodropropizine are linear.

Distribution and excretion of teicoplanin in rats after single and repeated intravenous administration.

After the i.v. administration of a single 10 mg/Kg dose of [14C] teicoplanin to rats, no substantial differences were found between males and females as regards the hematic profile, the excretion pattern and tissue distribution. About 74% of the administered radioactivity was recovered in the 0-120 hours interval and more than 90% of this amount was found in the first 24 hours. In the 0-120 hour interval, 7% of the dose was excreted with the faeces, while the total 14C excreted (including the cage washing) was 82% of the dose. A high affinity of [14C] teicoplanin for the kidneys and especially for the cortex area was displayed in the distribution study. Similar findings were observed when 7 intravenous doses (10 mg/Kg each) were given to male rats at 24 hour intervals. The percentage of the total dose found in urine seven days after the last administration remained close to 70% and also the excretion data observed in each collection interval after the last treatment were comparable with those obtained in the single dose study. The distribution in tissues was very similar to that of the single dose experiment. The high 14C concentration level found in the kidneys of animals killed at 5 min after the last treatment was cleared with a disappearance rate comparable with that observed in the single dose experiment.

Capillary gas chromatographic determination of epomediol in human plasma and urine using a rapid solid-phase extraction.

A simple and precise method for the quantitation of epomediol in human plasma and urine is described. Each biological sample is added with the internal standard and applied directly to an Extrelut-1 solid-phase column. After absorption the column is eluted with chloroform and the eluate is evaporated to dryness. The residue, reconstituted in ethanol, is analysed by capillary gas chromatography. No interferences from possible metabolites or endogenous constituents can be noted. The method has been applied to human pharmacokinetic studies: the results of a subacute administration to volunteers are presented.

Determination of cyclic butylboronate esters of some 1,2- and 2,3-diols in plasma by high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analytical procedure is described to determine glycols in plasma as cyclic butyl boronate esters. The method, involving a pre-deproteinization step, required only 0.25 ml of plasma and a short time (20 min) to react with the derivatizing agent (butyl boronic acid). The gas chromatographic separation on a CP Sil 8 CB silica capillary column coupled to a mass detector assured a complete identification of the compounds. The analytical recoveries (greater than 95%) with low coefficient of variation (4-11%) assured the feasibility of the method over a concentration range from 5 to 1000 micrograms ml-1 for each glycol. The lower detection limits, namely 1-5 micrograms ml-1, confirmed the sensitivity of the method.

Distribution of tiropramide and metabolites after single intravenous or peroral administration of 14C-tiropramide to the rat.

The study was performed with 14C-tiropramide hydrochloride, i.e. O-(2-diethylamino-ethyl)-N-benzoyl-[DL-(U-14C)tyrosyl]-dipropylamide+ ++ hydrochloride, with a specific activity of 466.16 microCi/mmol. The substance was administered in single intravenous (i.v.) doses of 4 mg/kg to 16 rats (8 males and 8 females) and in single peroral (p.o.) doses of 10 mg/kg to other 16 rats (8 males and 8 females). The radioactivity in plasma, in several organs and tissues and in gastrointestinal contents was measured by scintillometry. After i.v. administration the radioactivity is rapidly found in all investigated organs and tissues and also in the stomach contents. The radioactivity is concentrated in the liver and kidney, and also in other organs, as the pancreas and the salivary glands. After 120 h the radioactivity is small in the organs but still appreciably present in the colon content. The radioactivity crosses the blood-brain barrier. Deep compartments were not found. After p.o. administration the radioactivity is rapidly found in the organs and is particularly concentrated in the liver, showing a rapid absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Besides the obvious higher concentration of radioactivity in the stomach and small intestine in the initial times after p.o. administration, the distribution and elimination pattern from the organs do not substantially differ from those found after i.v. administration. The distribution pattern found using the scintillographic method were confirmed by an autoradiographic study made on 12 non-pregnant rats (10 males and 2 females) and on 7 rats at the 13th day of pregnancy and 7 rats at the 18th day of pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Metabolism and excretion of 14C-tiropramide after single intravenous or peroral administration to the rat.

The study was performed with 14C-tiropramide hydrochloride, i.e. O-(2-diethylamino-ethyl)-N-benzoyl-[DL-(U-14C)tyrosyl]-dipropylamide+ ++ hydrochloride, with a specific activity of 466.16 microCi/mmol. For the study of pulmonary, urinary and fecal excretion the substance was administered in single intravenous (i.v.) doses of 4 mg/kg to 4 rats (2 males and 2 females) and in single peroral (p.o.) doses of 10 mg/kg to other 4 rats (2 males and 2 females). For the study of biliary excretion 4 mg/kg of 14C-tiropramide hydrochloride were administered in single i.v. doses to 4 rats (2 males and 2 females) anesthetized with urethane and the bile was collected from the choledocus in the 8 h following administration. The radioactivity in the expired CO2, urine feces and bile was measured by scintillometry. The radioactive substances were extracted, separated by TLC and identified by comparison of their Rf values with those of putative metabolites with known chemical structure. The following results were obtained. Radioactivity in the expired CO2: No radioactivity was found, either after i.v. or p.o. administration. Radioactivity in urine: In the 48 h after administration 37% of the i.v. administered radioactivity and 31% of the p.o. administered radioactivity was recovered in the urine. Six basic substances could be identified. In order of decreasing abundance these were CR 1166, CR 1098, tiropramide, CR 1034, CR 1919 and CR 1938. Radioactivity in feces: In the 120 h after administration 60% of the i.v. administered radioactivity and 56% of the p.o. administered radioactivity was recovered in the feces.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tiropramide and metabolites in blood and plasma after intravenous or peroral administration of 14C-tiropramide to the rat.

The study was performed with 14C-tiropramide hydrochloride (O-(2-diethylamino-ethyl)-N-benzoyl-[DL-U-14C-tyrosyl]-dipropyl-amide hydrochloride) with a specific activity of 466.16 muCi/mmol. The substance was administered in single i.v. doses of 4 mg/kg to 18 male and 18 female rats or p.o. doses of 10 mg/kg to 16 male and 16 female rats. The radioactivity in blood and plasma was measured by scintillometry. The radioactive substances were extracted, separated by TLC and identified by comparison of their Rf values with those of putative metabolites with known chemical structure. After i.v. administration the parent substance tiropramide and 5 metabolites were identified in plasma. Tiropramide was the most abundant substance with an AUC equal to 51% of the AUC of total radioactivity. After p.o. administration the parent tiropramide and 5 metabolites were identified. Tiropramide was the most abundant substance till the 1st h. Then the metabolite CR 1098 ((+-)a-benzoylamino-4-(2-ethylamino-ethoxy)-N, N-dipropyl-benzenepropanamide) prevailed. The Cmax of tiropramide was reached at 0.5 h with 1183 nmol/l. The AUC of tiropramide was 19% of the AUC of total radioactivity. It appears that after p.o. administration the biotransformation of tiropramide is more intense than after i.v. administration. The absolute bioavailability of total radioactivity calculated on the ratio between the p.o. and i.v. AUC was 0.67, that of tiropramide was 0.23. The difference between the absolute bioavailability of total radioactivity and that of tiropramide is probably due to a first-pass effect and a more intense biotransformation of the substance after p.o. administration.

Pharmacokinetics of flunoxaprofen in rats, dogs, and monkeys.

The kinetics of flunoxaprofen, an anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drug, was studied in rats (Charles River), dogs (beagles), and monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Plasma levels, after oral and iv administration of 20-40 mg/kg, and urinary excretion were followed for 24-72 h; the determinations were performed by gas chromatography. Levels in various organs and in rat bile were also determined. The pharmacokinetic parameters show noteworthy similarities in the three species studied: high bioavailability, extensive biotransformations with small urinary excretion of unmodified drug, total clearance between 40 and 50 mL/h/kg, and peak plasma levels of approximately 200 micrograms/mL. Rats show a high value in volume of distribution (2 L/kg), whereas dogs and monkeys show a volume of distribution between 0.13 and 0.18 L/kg. In the rat, the half-life of the drug is approximately 70 h, whereas in the dog and monkey, a half-life of approximately 2 h was found.