Effects of rutaecarpine on the metabolism and urinary excretion of caffeine in rats

Although rutaecarpine, an alkaloid originally isolated from the unripe fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa, has been reported to reduce the systemic exposure of caffeine, the mechanism of this phenomenon is unclear. We investigated the microsomal enzyme activity using hepatic S-9 fraction and the plasma concentration-time profiles and urinary excretion of caffeine and its major metabolites after an oral administration of caffeine in the presence and absence of rutaecarpine in rats. Following oral administration of 80 mg/kg rutaecarpine for three consecutive days, caffeine (20 mg/kg) was given orally. Plasma and urine were collected serially for up to 24 h and the plasma and urine concentrations of caffeine and its metabolites were measured, and compared with those in control rats. The areas under the curve of both caffeine and its three major metabolites (paraxanthine, theophylline, and theobromine) were significantly reduced by rutaecarpine, indicating that caffeine was rapidly converted into the desmethylated metabolites, and that those were also quickly transformed into further metabolites via the hydroxyl metabolites due to the remarkable induction of CYP1A2 and 2E1. The significant induction of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase, and p-nitrophenol hydroxylase strongly supported the decrease in caffeine and its major metabolites in plasma, as well as in urine. These results clearly suggest that rutaecarpine increases the metabolism of caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, and paraxanthine by inducing CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 in rats.     

Comparison of urinary excretion characteristics of ethanol and ethyl glucuronide

This study compared the urinary excretion characteristics of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) with that of ethanol, with focus on the effect of water-induced diuresis. Six healthy volunteers ingested an ethanol dose of 0.5 g/kg (range 25.0-41.5 g) as 5% (v/v) beer in 30 min and the same volume of water after 3 h. Urine collections were made before starting the experiment and at timed intervals over 31.5 h. The concentration of EtG was determined by an LC-MS method (LOQ = 0.1 mg/L). The urine samples collected immediately before starting drinking were all negative for ethanol and EtG, thus confirming that the participants had not recently ingested alcohol. Intake of beer resulted in a marked increase in excreted urine volume and a concomitant drop in creatinine concentration. The concentration of ethanol peaked at a mean value of 17 mmol/L in the 1.5-h urine collection. Except for one subject, EtG was first detectable (range 0.9-5.5 mg/L) at 1 h. Intake of water at 3 h produced another increase in urine volume and a drop in creatinine. The ethanol concentration curve was not influenced by the water diuresis, whereas this caused a distinct drop in the EtG concentration. When EtG was expressed relative to the creatinine value, this ratio was seemingly not affected by the intake of water. The ethanol concentration returned to zero at 6.5 h, whereas EtG was still detectable for up to 22.5-31.5 h, albeit at low levels in the end (< 1 mg/l). Only about 0.02% of the administered dose of ethanol (on a molar basis) was recovered in the urine as EtG. The results demonstrated that EtG remains detectable in the urine for many hours after the ethanol itself has been eliminated. Moreover, it was possible to lower the concentration of EtG by drinking large amounts of water prior to voiding, whereas this strategy did not influence the EtG/creatinine ratio or the concentration of ethanol.     

Studies on the metabolism of piperine: absorption, tissue distribution and excretion of urinary conjugates in rats

Upon administration of piperine, the major bite factor of black pepper, to male albino rats at a dose of 30 mg (170 mg/kg) by gavage or 15 mg (85 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, about 97% was absorbed irrespective of the mode of dosing. Three per cent of the administered dose was excreted as piperine in the feces. Piperine was not detectable in urine. When everted sacs of rat intestines were incubated with 200-1000 micrograms of piperine, about 47-64% of the added piperine disappeared from the mucosal side. Only piperine was present in the serosal fluid and also the intestinal tissue, indicating that piperine did not undergo any metabolic change during absorption. Examination of the passage of piperine through the gut indicated that the highest concentration in the stomach and small intestine was attained at about 6 h. Only traces (less than 0.15%) of piperine were detected in serum, kidney and spleen from 30 min to 24 h. About 1-2.5% of the intraperitoneally administered piperine was detected in the liver during 0.5-6 h after administration as contrasted with 0.1-0.25% of the orally administered dose. The increased excretion of conjugated uronic acids, conjugated sulphates and phenols indicated that scission of the methylenedioxy group of piperine, glucuronidation and sulphation appear to be the major steps in the disposition of piperine in the rat.     

蛇床子素调节酒精性脂肪肝大鼠脂代谢机制的研究

蛇床子是伞形科一年生草本植物蛇床（Cnidium monitor L．Cusson）的干燥成熟果实，蛇床子素为其有效成分之一。我们在研究去卵巢大鼠时首次发现蛇床子素可以降低血清甘油三酯（TG）水平，进一步的研究结果显示蛇床子素可以降低脂肪肝动物肝中的总胆固醇（TC）和TG含量，提示蛇床子素对动物脂肪肝有较好的治疗作用心。为此本文从对脂代谢的影响进一步探讨它的可能作用机制，为其将来的临床应用提供可靠的药理学依据。     

Blood-to-muscle distribution and urinary excretion of higenamine in rats

Higenamine is a β₂-agonist that has been prohibited in sports by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Higenamine could potentially promote anabolism and lipolysis; however, its crucial pharmacokinetics data, particularly muscle distribution, remain unavailable. The present study aims to investigate the blood-to-muscle distribution as well as the urinary excretion of higenamine in laboratory rats. In the first experiment, the microdialysis technique was employed to continuously measure free, protein-unbound concentrations in blood and muscle for 90 min (sampling at a 5-min interval) after rats received IV infusion of higenamine. The mean half-lives of higenamine in blood and muscle were 17.9 and 19.0 min, respectively. The blood-to-muscle distribution ratio (AUC_muscle/AUC_blood) of higenamine was estimated to be 22%. In the second experiment, rats were orally administered with a single-dose higenamine, and their urine samples were profiled at a 12-h interval for up to 48 h. Results showed only a small portion of total consumption (1.44%, ranging 0.71%–2.50%) was excreted in the urine. Among these time points, about 43% cumulative amount of higenamine was eliminated within the first 12 h. Our data suggested that one-quarter of the unbound higenamine rapidly penetrates from the vessels into muscle, distributes to the interstitial fluid, then eliminates from the rat in a short span of time. The muscle tissue is likely to have a low binding affinity for higenamine, and renal excretion plays a minor role in its elimination. Together, our findings provide valuable pharmacokinetics data that may gain deeper insights into higenamine's role in skeletal muscle functions.     

Theophylline: pharmacokinetics, metabolism and urinary excretion in dogs

The disposition of theophylline (aminophylline) administered either parenterally or orally to anesthetized dogs was studied. Pharmacokinetics of theophylline (8.2 mg/kg, n = 10) following intravenous administration could be analyzed by a two-compartment open model. The half-time (T1/2 beta) of theophylline was 5.63 +/- 0.83 hr, and the volume of distribution (Vd) was 0.73 +/- 0.04 l/kg. The elimination rate constant was 0.37 +/- 0.05 hr-1. Two metabolites of theophylline were isolated from urine and identified as 3-methyl xanthine (3-MX) and 1,3-dimethyl uric acid (1,3-DMU) by HPLC. The dogs excreted about 85% (n = 4) of the dose in urine in 24 hr. The majority (2/3) was excreted as changed theophylline, i.e., 3-MX 40.2 +/- 3.5% and 1,3-DMU 26.2 +/- 4.3%, while unchanged theophylline amounted to 18.2 +/- 2.4%. Absorption of theophylline (8.2 mg/kg, n = 5) administered intramuscularly was good as indicated by its high bioavailability (101.9 +/- 6.5%), but the value of bioavailability was low in oral administration (72.8 +/- 11.8%, n = 5). The percentage of protein binding (about 44%, n = 3-7) did not change by increasing the serum concentration (8.2-24.6 micrograms/ml).     

Cold-restraint stress and urinary endogenous beta-phenylethylamine excretion in rats

Stress applied to humans increases the urinary excretion of the endogenous amphetamine-like substance beta-phenylethylamine (PEA), a potentially common mediator of amphetamine and stress effects. The present study was conducted to determine if cold-restraint stress in the rat could represent an animal model for stress-induced changes in PEA disposition in humans. The stressor markedly elevated the urinary excretion of endogenous PEA in a manner that was not attributable to changes in urinary pH, glomerular filtration rate or in food consumption. In addition, a large diurnal variation in PEA excretion was noted. The data suggest that the variables responsible for stress-induced alterations in endogenous PEA disposition in humans and rats are generally similar. However, they also indicate that in rats, in contrast to humans, PEA disposition is subject to diurnal changes.     

Naloxone-induced increase in blood and brain ethanol concentrations in rats

Although a reduction in blood ethanol concentration has been proposed to mediate the ethanol antagonist activity of naloxone observed in clinical and experimental situations, an increase in this variable as well as in brain ethanol concentration has been found in rats treated with naloxone (0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg, i.p.) ten min after intragastric administration of ethanol (1 and 2 g/kg). This effect disappeared either when naloxone was administered 50 min after ethanol or when ethanol was given intraperitoneally. On the other hand, naloxone induced a slight but significant slowing in intestinal transit rate. These results suggest that naloxone may facilitate gastrointestinal absorption of ethanol when administered soon after an oral load of this drug. Therefore, mechanisms other than a pharmacokinetic interaction appear to be involved in the antagonist action of naloxone.     

The adaptive increase in ethanol metabolism due to pretreatment with ethanol: a rapid phenomenon

Simple models were developed to study changes in oxygen uptake in perfused rat liver and increases in ethanol metabolism in vivo. Results obtained 2.5 hours following a large dose of ethanol were quantitatively similar to those seen after 24 hours or 5 weeks. The rapidity of the increase indicated that SIAM represents an activation rather than an adaptation. Pathways responsible for the swift increase in alcohol metabolism (SIAM) in the perfused rat liver were investigated through the use of ouabain and were found to be related to diminished glycolysis and another unidentified pathway. Investigation of pathways responsible for the increase in ethanol metabolism in vivo following ethanol treatment implicated the alcohol dehydrogenase pathway as that mainly responsible for the adaptive increase, although a catalase-H2O2-dependent component was also involved. The rate of NADH reoxidation generally appeared to be the rate-limiting step. In addition, the genetic aspect of SIAM was indicated through selective breeding resulting in F1 generations of non-SIAM and SIAM rats.     

Impact of water-induced diuresis on excretion profiles of ethanol, urinary creatinine, and urinary osmolality

This article reports the impact of diuresis on urinary excretion of ethanol in seven healthy volunteers who drank 1000 mL of export beer (44 g ethanol) in 30 min and, 120 min later, ingested 500 or 1000 mL of water within 5 min. Urine was voided before drinking started and every 30-60 min for 360 min after the start of drinking. The concentration of ethanol in urine (UAC) was determined by headspace gas chromatography, the creatinine content was determined by Jaffe's method, and osmolality was measured by freezing point depression. Maximum diuresis coincided with the peak UAC and was reached 60-90 min after the end of drinking. The urinary creatinine and osmolality dropped appreciably after drinking beer, and the lowest values coincided with peak diuresis. Creatinine was < 0.2 g/L in 22% of urine specimens, and osmolality was < 200 mOsm/kg in 31% of specimens. Production of urine decreased as UAC entered the postabsorptive phase but increased again after the subjects drank water 120 min after alcohol consumption. The amount of ethanol recovered in urine was 681 mg (standard deviation [SD] 203 mg) corresponding to 1.5% (SD 0.46%) of the dose administered. The concentrations of ethanol in successive voids during the postabsorptive phase were not influenced after subjects drank 500 or 1000 mL of water although diuresis increased and urinary creatinine and osmolality decreased. Measuring UAC provides a reliable way to monitor recent drinking, and unlike the analysis of illicit drugs in urine, the concentrations of ethanol are not influenced by diuresis.     

Effect of dietary fat upon ethanol metabolism in rats

The effect of dietary fat upon ethanol metabolism was studied in rats. Wistar strain male rats were divided into four groups according to diet, namely alcohol-high fat, alcohol-low fat, control-high fat, and control-low fat. After 4 weeks of feeding, blood ethanol levels following an intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 g ethanol/100 g of body weight were measured. The disappearance rate of blood ethanol was faster and the metabolic rate of ethanol was significantly greater in the alcohol-high fat group compared to the alcohol-low fat or non-alcoholic groups. Microsomal enzymes, such as the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system, aniline hydroxylase. and glucose-6-phosphatase, were significantly higher in the alcohol-high fat group than in the alcohol-low fat or non-alcoholic groups. The ethanol uptake rate of the isolated perfused liver was increased significantly in the alcoholic groups. In the alcoholic rats, the high fat group showed significantly higher uptake than the low fat group. Although the ethanol uptake rate after 4-methylpyrazole treatment was not significantly different among the four groups, its fraction of the total ethanol uptake was increased significantly in the alcohol-high fat group. These results suggest that high fat diets accelerate ethanol metabolism through the microsomal ethanoloxidizing system.     

Sex-related differences in urinary excretion of egualen sodium in rats.

Egualen sodium (sodium 3-ethyl-7-isopropyl-1-azulenesulfonate 1/3 hydrate) is a new antiulcer drug. There has been no difference observed in absorption between male and female rats, the relative amount of metabolites in male plasma has been higher than that in females, and the excretion ratios of metabolites in males have been significantly higher than those in females. However, the plasma concentration profile of total radioactivity in males has been higher than that in females. To clarify this discrepancy, the renal clearances and plasma concentrations of the unchanged drug and its metabolites were determined. The renal clearance of the unchanged drug in males was 21 times lower than that in females, and the urinary excretions in males and females were 2.1 and 39.5% of dose, respectively. This indicates that the major factor in the sex-related difference observed in the plasma concentration of total radioactivity is due to the difference in the renal clearance of the unchanged drug between the sexes. The results of treatments with probenecid in normal and gonadectomized rats revealed that egualen sodium was mainly excreted into urine by secretion through the renal tubule. Furthermore, the results of treatments with testosterone in rats revealed that the excretion of egualen sodium was highly affected by androgens. These facts indicated that the sex-related difference observed in the plasma concentration of total radioactivity can be attributed to the inhibition of renal tubular secretion of the unchanged drug by androgens. This is the first example of sex-related differences in both metabolism and excretion.     

The influences of ethanol and other factors on the excretion of urinary salsolinol in social drinkers

Salsolinol, a substance that may participate in the development of alcoholism, has been identified in urine and other biological samples from alcoholics. Differentials have been observed between alcoholics and controls. Salsolinol forms when dopamine reacts with acetaldehyde, which may exist in higher concentrations in the blood of alcoholics after alcohol ingestion. Hence, it was postulated that there is a relationship between level of social drinking and the elaboration of salsolinol. Salsolinol is also found in certain food and beverage products. Eighty volunteers, balanced for gender, social drinking level, ethanol dose administered and experimental diet provided urine samples 90 minutes and three hours after ethanol was consumed. Salsolinol levels were analysed in urine using high performance liquid chromatography. A 24 hour carryover effect was observed. Diet, ethanol dose and social drinking level had main and interactive effects on excreted quantities of salsolinol. Gender, situational stress and cigarette smoking had minor if any influence on salsolinol excretion. While there was no evident difference in amounts of salsolinol excreted by light and heavy drinkers in the absence of external sources of salsolinol, heavy social drinkers excreted less salsolinol than did light drinkers after consuming a "salsolinol-enriched" diet, suggesting that they differ in some aspect of absorption, distribution, or metabolism of salsolinol after drinking ethanol. Accordingly, studies that attempt to determine whether salsolinol has any relationship to drinking behaviour in humans should be particularly concerned with salsolinol that occurs in exogenous sources.     

Increased excretion of urinary 20-HETE in rats with cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity

The present study examined the contribution of 20-hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) in cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced renal nephrotoxicity. Treatment of rats with CsA (50 mg/kg) for 9 days induced renal damage as indicated by marked increase in urine flow (from 9.0 +/- 0.3 ml/day to 46.6 +/- 7.1 ml/day) and a 3 - 5-fold rise in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. The urinary excretion of 20-HETE increased from 164 +/- 5 ng/day (N = 5) to 2432 +/- 290 ng/day (N = 5, P<0.01) after 9 days of CsA treatment. The increase in the urinary excretion of 20-HETE in the CsA treated rats was highly correlated with the increase in BUN levels (r = 0.819, P<0.001) and urine volume (r = 0.832, P<0.001). Immunohistochemical examination of kidney revealed that expression of cytochrome P450 4A (CYP4A) protein was markedly enhanced in the proximal tubules of CsA-treated rats. These results indicate that CsA-induced nephrotoxicity in rats is associated with a marked elevation in the renal production of 20-HETE and that 20-HETE may contribute to the pathophysiological condition of CsA-induced nephrotoxicity.     

Distribution, excretion, and metabolism of nitro-p-phenylenediamine in rats

The distribution, excretion, and metabolism of nitro-p-phenylenediamine, a constituent of hair dye, was studied after administration of [14C]nitro-p-phenylene-diamine (2.6 mg/30 microCi/kg) to male rats. After intraperitoneal administration, 37.4% of the radioactivity administered was excreted in the urine and 54.3% in the feces within 24 h. After intravenous administration, 42.2% of the radioactivity was excreted in the bile within 24 h. The highest concentration of radioactivity in tissues was found at 1 h, except in the small and large intestines, followed by a rapid decrease in concentration. Only small amounts of radioactivity were found in the tissues 48 h after administration. Some of the radioactive materials in the urine were separated by thin-layer chromatography and identified as N1,N4-diacetyl-2-amino-p-phenylenediamine, N4-acetyl-2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine, and unchanged nitro-p-phenylenediamine.     

Renal accumulation and urinary excretion of cisplatin in diabetic rats.

Previous work has demonstrated that cisplatin nephrotoxicity was attenuated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The following studies investigated the hypothesis that renal cisplatin accumulation was reduced in diabetic rats. Male Fischer 344 (F344) rats were injected with 32 mg/kg STZ (i.p.) or citrate buffer. Renal platinum (Pt) accumulation was quantitated 0-96 h after the administration of 5 mg/kg cisplatin (i.p.) to normoglycemic and diabetic rats (greater than or equal to 4/group). Total renal Pt accumulation was decreased (P less than 0.05) in the diabetic rats, when compared to the normoglycemic group, 6-48 h after cisplatin injection. Further studies were also conducted to examine if urinary cisplatin excretion was enhanced in diabetic relative to normoglycemic groups. Urinary Pt excretion was quantitated 0-96 h following cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p.) administration. Pt excretion was increased in the diabetic group relative to the normoglycemics when comparisons were made on the basis of Pt excreted per hour or cumulative Pt excretion. Differences were also detected in urinary Pt concentration. The diabetic group had a lower urinary concentration of the metal 12-96 h after cisplatin injection. These findings suggest that the reduction in nephrotoxicity in diabetic rats may be at least partially due to decreased renal accumulation as well as altered renal excretion.     

人参皂苷Rg1在大鼠体内的代谢与排泄研究

目的 考察静注和口服给予大鼠人参皂苷Rg1溶液后的体内代谢与排泄情况.方法 以Wistar大鼠为模型动物,分别iv和ig给予一定量的人参皂苷Rg1溶液,然后按时收集其排泄物(尿液与粪便),预处理后用HPLC检测.结果 iv给予大鼠人参皂苷Rg1溶液后,有47.46%的原型药和代谢产物通过粪便排出体外;而51.31%的药物以原型或代谢产物的形式通过尿液排出体外;ig给予大鼠人参皂苷Rg1溶液后,绝大部分Rg1都被代谢,排泄物中仅有9.04%的原型药物,且仅有13.6%的人参皂苷Rg1被吸收进入人体再通过尿液排出,还有82.82%的原型药物和代谢产物直接通过粪便排出.结论 人参皂苷Rg1在胆汁中排泄明显,其口服吸收差,生物利用度低,且极易被代谢.     

Bunolol metabolism by dogs: urinary excretion of 5-hydroxytetralone.

1. Anion exchange and t.l.c. were used to collect the polar drug metabolites present in urine of dogs treated orally with [14C]bunolol. 2. A new metabolite, 5-hydroxytetralone, was isolated, purified, and identified by u.v.,i.r. and mass spectroscopy. 3. 5-Hydroxytetralone represented 1.7% dose excreted in urine collected for 24 h after bunolol administration. 4. Properties of the metabolite are discussed in relation to the question of whether 5-hydroxytetralone was excreted as a conjugate.