Salbutamol disposition and dynamics in conscious rabbits: Influence of the route of administration and of the dose

This study assessed the influence of dose and route of administration on salbutamol kinetics and hypokaliemic effect. Salbutamol plasma kinetics were studied in a first group of 6 rabbits who received 60, 800, and 60 g/kg by the intravenous (iv), oral (po), and intratracheal (it) routes, respectively, at 1-week intervals. A second group of 6 rabbits received 120, 2400, and 120 g/kg of salbutamol by the same three routes. Multiple blood samples were withdrawn to assay salbutamol and potassium. Following iv salbutamol (60 g/kg), total plasma clearance was 82±5 ml/min per kg, apparent volume of distribution was 5.0±0.5 l/kg, and terminal half- life was 41±2 min. Similar values were estimated when 120 g/kg of salbutamol was administered iv or was given po or it. The bioavailability of po and it salbutamol was approximately 1 and 20%, respectively. For the first group, the maximal decrease in plasma potassium elicited by salbutamol was 0.80±0.19, 0.48±0.22, and 0.78±0.46 mmol/l, and for the second group, maximal decrement was 1.31±0.37, 0.70±0.24, and 0.84±0.17 mmol/l for the iv, po, and it routes, respectively. Compared to salbutamol peak plasma concentrations, maximal decrease in plasma potassium appeared between 60 and 108 min later for the iv route, 90 and 25 min later for po and it routes, and for this reason, the hypokaliemic effect was not associated to salbutamol plasma concentrations. The hypokaliemic effect was dependent upon the route, e.g., po>it>iv. It is concluded that (i) salbutamol plasma kinetics are first-order independently of the route of administration, and (ii) salbutamol hypokaliemic effect is modulated by the dose and the route of administration.List of abbreviations AUC Area under salbutamol plasma concentration-time curve - cl_INT Salbutamol intrinsic clearance - cl_T Salbutamol total plasma clearance - c_MAX Salbutamol maximal plasma concentration - F Fraction of the dose of salbutamol reaching the systemic circulation - iv Intravenous route of administration - it Intratracheal route of administration - po Oral route of administration - V_area Salbutamol apparent volume of distribution - T ₂ ¹ Salbutamol half-life of the terminal phase - t_MAX Time to observe the maximal decrease in plasma potassium - e_MAX Predicted maximal effect of salbutamol - EC₅₀ Concentration of salbutamol eliciting 50% of e_MAX Supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada (MT-10874). Sylvie Perreault is recipient of a Bourse Formation de troisième cycle des Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec.     

The disposition and metabolism of [14C]piritrexim in dogs after intravenous and oral administration.

The disposition of [14C]piritrexim ([14C]PTX) in male dogs after iv and po doses of 1.8 mg/kg was examined. After either route of administration, greater than 90% of the dose was recovered in the exreta within 72 hr; approximately 20% was recovered in urine and 70% in feces. [14C]PTX was extensively metabolized by dogs; unchanged drug accounted for less than 15% of the dose in the excreta. The O-demethylated metabolites, 2'- and 5'-demethyl PTX, the glucuronide conjugate of 2'-demethyl PTX, and the sulfate conjugate of 5'-demethyl PTX were the major metabolites. Unchanged drug accounted for a large proportion of the drug-related radiocarbon in plasma. The average plasma half-life of PTX after iv administration was 2.6 +/- 0.3 hr, and the average total body clearance was 0.33 +/- 0.13 liter/hr/kg. After po administration, peak plasma concentrations of 0.9 +/- 0.3 micrograms/ml occurred about 1.1 hr after the dose; the absolute oral bioavailability of PTX was 0.63 +/- 0.14. Because the O-demethyl metabolites were active dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors, 2'- and 5'-demethyl PTX were synthesized, and the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of these compounds in dogs after iv and po administration (5 mg/kg) were examined. The plasma concentration-time data for both compounds after iv doses were described by a two-compartment model, with t1/2 beta = 1.3 and 0.8 hr for the 2'- and 5'- demethyl compounds, respectively. Neither compound showed significant advantages over PTX in terms of pharmacokinetics or bioavailability.     

Presystemic and systemic intestinal metabolism of fenoterol in the conscious rat

The intestinal and liver first pass metabolism of fenoterol.HBr (Berotec, Partusisten) was investigated in the conscious rat. Fenoterol plasma concentrations (2-1000 ng/ml) were measured with a new HPLC determination using electrochemical detection. After intraduodenal administration, fenoterol was incompletely absorbed (47-66% not absorbed). Presystemic intestinal (EGpre) and liver (EH) extraction ratios, EGpre = 0.93 +/- 0.01, EH = 0.67 +/- 0.04, were calculated from AUC values after intraduodenal, intraportal, and iv administration. Saturation of intestinal and/or liver metabolism was checked by using three dose levels at different administration routes. Total systemic availability after intraduodenal administration ranged from 0.8 (10 mg/kg) to 1.2% (40 mg/kg). The contribution of the splanchnic region to the systemic clearance of fenoterol was assessed by measuring fenoterol and fenoterol-glucuronide concentrations in arterial and portal venous blood under steady state conditions. During iv infusion (30 micrograms fenoterol/min X kg), an intestinal extraction ratio of EG = 0.26 was observed. After iv administration of fenoterol (1 and 2 mg/kg), dose-dependent pharmacokinetics were observed. Doubling of the dose resulted in an increase of systemic clearance (Cl = 53.8 +/- 2.7 and 74.4 +/- 1.8 ml/min X kg) and distribution volume (Vss = 0.95 +/- 0.13 and 1.21 +/- 0.11 liters/kg); the mean residence time (17.9 +/- 2.4 and 16.3 +/- 1.4 min) and terminal half-life (45.8 +/- 5.5 and 46.8 +/- 2.8 min) were not changed.     

The pharmacokinetics of (-)-carbovir in rats. Evidence for nonlinear elimination

This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of (-)-carbovir in rats following iv and po administration at doses of 10 to 120 mg/kg. The systemic clearance decreased 5-fold as the iv dose was increased from 10 to 120 mg/kg. At lower doses, (-)-carbovir was eliminated primarily by the renal route. The renal component of clearance became saturated as the dose was increased, leading to nonlinearity in the pharmacokinetics of (-)-carbovir. There were no changes in the metabolic clearance or the formation clearance of the major metabolite over the dose range of 10 to 60 mg/kg. The clearance value estimated following iv bolus administration was a "concentration averaged" value, and was not predictive of the steady-state concentrations. IV infusion studies indicated that at plasma concentrations less than 2500 ng/ml, the pharmacokinetics of (-)-carbovir were linear. The bioavailability was calculated for each treatment level and ranged from 43% at 10 mg/kg (iv and po) to 3% at 120 mg/kg (iv and po). The nonlinearity in the pharmacokinetics of (-)-carbovir must be taken into account when determining the bioavailability. At doses lower than 10 mg/kg, where the serum concentrations after iv administration would always remain in the linear range, the bioavailability may approach 50 to 60%. Poor bioavailability at high doses in the rat may not be reflective of the clinical situation, since the anticipated doses will be much lower than those administered in the rat.     

Bronchodilating and cardiovascular effects of intraduodenally and orally administered clenbuterol in dogs

The bronchodilating and cardiovascular effects of intraduodenally and orally administered 4-amino-alpha-[tert-butylamino)methyl]-3,5-dichlorobenzylalcohol hydrochloride (clenbuterol, NAB 365) in anesthetized and conscious dogs were investigated and compared with those of salbutamol, isoprenaline (isoproterenol) and (4-amino-3,5-dichlorophenyl) glycolic acid (M-7), a metabolite of clenbuterol. In pentobarbitalized dogs, clenbuterol, 3-100 micrograms/kg i.d., inhibited the increase in airway resistance induced by histamine in a dose-related manner; clenbuterol was approximately 2 and 100 times more potent than salbutamol and isoprenaline, respectively. The plasma level of clenbuterol increased within 15 min and reached the maximum level within 60 to 90 min, which lasted for over 4 h after administration. The inhibitory effect was abolished by pretreatment with propranolol. M-7 showed no significant effect. In anesthetized dogs, clenbuterol and salbutamol, 10 and 100 microgram/kg i.d., decreased arterial blood pressure and increased heart rate and maximum rate of rise of left ventricular pressure. Isoprenaline, 10 and 100 micrograms/kg i.d., caused no marked changes in these parameters. In conscious dogs, clenbuterol, 10 and 100 micrograms/kg p.o., and salbutamol, 100 micrograms/kg p.o., increased heart rate; the maximum responses were observed 1 to 2 h after administration and lasted for over 3 h. No marked effects were observed after salbutamol, 10 micrograms/kg p.o., isoprenaline, 10 and 100 micrograms/kg p.o., and M-7, 100 micrograms/kg p.o.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Study on the effectiveness of toborinone (OPC-18790) in the treatment of heart failure in patients following cardiac surgery.

Toborinone ((+/-)-6-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylamino)-2-hydroxypropoxy]-2(1H)-qui nolinone, CAS 128667-95-8, OPC-18790), a novel cardiotonic agent with an inhibitory action on phosphodiesterase, is known to have a potent positive inotropic action with no positive chronotropic effect. The effectiveness of this drug in the treatment of heart failure occurring immediately after extracorporeal circulation (ECC) in cardiac surgery was investigated. The study was conducted in 12 patients with valvular heart disease showing a cardiac index (CI) of below 2.8 l/min/m2 and/or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) or pulmonary arterial diastolic pressure (PAD) of above 8 mmHg immediately after extracorporeal circulation. In group A (n = 6), toborinone was infused at a rate of 40 micrograms/kg/min for the first 5 min and then at 10 micrograms/kg/min for 85 min. In group B (n = 6), the drug was infused at a rate of 10 micrograms/kg/min for the entire 90 min. CI, mean systemic arterial pressure (mSAP), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), CVP, PCWP, and heart rate were measured at 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min after the start of infusion. The infusion volume required to maintain a constant PCWP was also estimated. In group A, CI increased rapidly and significantly from the baseline of 2.48 +/- 0.23 l/min/m2 to 3.57 +/- 1.07 l/min/m2 at 5 min after the start of infusion, and at that time mSAP was slightly decreased. In group B, CI increased gradually from the baseline of 2.53 +/- 0.18 l/min/m2 to 3.08 +/- 0.34 l/min/m2 at 15 min after the start of infusion, but almost no change was seen in mSAP. During the first 30 min, group A required a significantly larger infusion volume (983 +/- 395 ml) than group B (475 +/- 184 ml). From 30 to 90 min after the start of infusion, CI remained increased to similar levels in both groups and mSAP levels were also similar. There were no significant differences between the two groups in any other parameter. Continuous infusion of toborinone appears to be effective for treating heart failure occurring immediately after ECC in cardiac surgery. Initial loading at a rate of 40 micrograms/kg/min rapidly increased CI but was accompanied by mild hypotension. Constant infusion at 10 micrograms/kg/min brought about a more gradual effect that was similar to that of loading at 40 micrograms/kg/min, but without inducing hypotension. Thus, infusion at 10 micrograms/kg/min is considered preferable in order to avoid a larger-than-necessary infusion volume.     

Clinical studies of intravenous drip infusion of micronomicin. 1. Absorption and excretion

Pharmacokinetics of MCR administered by 1 hour intravenous drip infusion were studied in healthy volunteers by two-compartment model. In 120 mg-dosage group (n = 3) studies were made by single administration, and in 60 mg-dosage group (n = 4) were administered twice daily and continued until a total of 9 doses. Results: When MCR was administered in a 60 mg dosage, its Cmax was 4.3 +/- 0.3 micrograms/ml (mean +/- S.D.) after the 1st dose and 3.7 +/- 0.4 micrograms/ml after the 9th dose, while it was 8.8 +/- 1.0 micrograms/ml when the dosage was 120 mg. It should be noted that in the case of repeated dosing with 60 mg, serum levels just before administration were always below the analytical limit. The mean of T 1/2 was 1.69 +/- 0.14 hours, remaining stable at all determination. The kinetic parameters that showed different values between determinations performed after the 1st and 9th 60 mg doses were V1 (0.107 vs 0.164 L/kg) and Kel (1.02 vs 0.68 hr-1). This was also the case with comparison of 2 different dosage groups (60 mg 1st vs 120 mg; V1: 0.107 vs 0.135 L/kg, Kel: 1.02 vs 0.72 hr-1). There was no evidence indicative of side effect of MCR. Discussion: The above results demonstrated that Cmax and other kinetic parameters were little influenced by whether MCR was administered by intravenous drip infusion or by intramuscular injection. There was a little larger difference in AUC between those 2 routes of administration but the differences seemed negligible when the same dosage was used. Pharmacokinetic studies are to be continued in subjects whose renal function is impaired in different ways to establish the optimum dosage regimen for MCR.     

The metabolism of [14C]rimantadine hydrochloride in rats and dogs.

Metabolism and route of excretion of [14C]rimantadine hydrochloride was studied in male rats after single po (60 mg/kg) and iv doses (15 mg/kg) and in male dogs (5 or 10 mg/kg po and 5 mg/kg iv). Total 14C excretion in urine (po and iv) in both species reached 81-87% of the dose in 96 hr. Rimantadine was excreted in rats free (1.0% po, 1.7% iv) and conjugated (0.8% of the dose, po and iv, both in 24 hr) and in dogs, free (2.6% po, 3.0% iv) and conjugated (6.4% po, 7.7% iv, both in 48 hr). In both species, rimantadine metabolism is essentially independent of the route of administration. In rats and dogs, m-hydroxyrimantadine (mostly unconjugated) was the major metabolite, 22% (po) and 24% (iv), and 27% (po) and 21% (iv), respectively. Rats, but not dogs, excreted trans-p-hydroxyrimantadine (23.5% and 25.2%, po and iv, free plus conjugated). An oxidative pathway in dogs produced the m- and p-hydroxylated analogs with a hydroxyl in place of the amino group (3.7% and 5.7% of the dose, both conjugated). A p-hydroxylated compound with a nitro group in place of the amino group may have originated from an N-hydroxy metabolite by spontaneous oxidation during isolation. Comparison of total 14C excretion, in rats (81%, po; 82%, iv) and dogs (81%, po; 84%, iv) after po and iv administration after 96 hr indicates good absorption of rimantadine.     

Effect of omeprazole on oral and intravenous RS-methadone pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in the rat

The effect of omeprazole on oral and intravenous (iv) RS-methadone pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics was studied in awake, freely moving rats, which were divided in four groups: oral RS-methadone (3 mg/kg) was given (a) to a control group (CO(oral)) (n = 65) and (b) to an omeprazole pretreated group (OP(oral)) (n = 77), and iv RS-methadone (0.35 mg/kg) was administered (c) to a control group (CO(iv)) (n = 86) and (d) to an omeprazole pretreated group (OP(iv)) (n = 86). Omeprazole (2 mg/kg) was given iv 2 h before RS-methadone. Plasma concentrations of RS-methadone (Cp) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and analgesic response by tail flick for 0-180 min (oral) and 0-120 min (iv). RS-Methadone rate of absorption (mean +/- SE) was faster in OP(oral) (k(01) = 0.31 +/- 0.04 min(-1)) than in CO(oral) (k(01) = 0.05 +/- 0.007 min(-1)), consequently plasma peak concentrations (C(max)) were greater (197.41 +/- 33.70 ng/mL versus 83.54 +/- 7.97 ng/mL) and the time to reach C(max) (t(max)) was shorter (11.23 +/- 1.32 min versus 39.18 +/- 1.74 min). Mean area under the Cp-time curve (AUC(0-infinity)) and hence bioavailability of oral RS-methadone were increased by omeprazole without significant changes in the elimination. Omeprazole did not affect the pharmacokinetics of iv RS-methadone. The changes of the analgesic effect of RS-methadone as a function of time were similar in all four groups. In the CO(oral) group, Cp and analgesic effect were defined by the E(max) model. The relationship between Cp and drug effect in the OP(oral) group showed a counterclockwise hysteresis (k(e0) of 0.018 +/- 0.006 min(-1)). For the iv groups (CO(iv) and OP(iv)), the Cp-analgesic effect relationship was described by an E(max) sigmoid model and omeprazole did not affect the pharmacodynamic parameters. It is concluded that omeprazole causes an increase in the bioavailability of oral RS-methadone without modifying the analgesic response but affecting the Cp-effect relationship.     

Pharmacokinetics of propafenone enantiomers in rats

Pharmacokinetics of propafenone (PPF) enantiomers were investigated in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats after iv, po, and ip administration of a single 10 mg/kg dose of the racemate. After all routes of administration, the AUC for the (-)-enantiomer was significantly higher than that of its antipode: the mean +/- SD values of (-):(+) AUC ratio were 1.99 +/- 0.228, 2.52 +/- 0.525, and 3.54 +/- 1.12 for the iv, ip, and po data, respectively. The respective absolute bioavailabilities of the (-)- and (+)-enantiomers were 0.422 and 0.254 after po administration and 0.493 and 0.402 after ip administration, indicating stereoselectivity in the first-pass metabolism of the drug. Only negligible amounts of the enantiomers were excreted unchanged into the urine of rats, suggesting that elimination of PPF in rats, as in humans, is almost entirely dependent on its metabolism. Compared with the iv and ip data, serum concentrations of the enantiomers after po administration remained above the assay sensitivity for a longer period of time. This was due to the presence of multiple peaks in the serum concentration-time courses of the enantiomers after po administration. In an exploratory experiment, it was shown that co-administration of quinidine sulfate drastically increases serum concentrations of both PPF enantiomers. The results of our study indicate that, in rats, pharmacokinetics of PPF are stereoselective and that the route of administration affects the degree of this stereoselectivity.     

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in anesthetized dogs following intravenous infusion

The pharmacokinetics of SK&F recombinant two-chain tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) following intravenous (iv) infusion were characterized in anesthetized, open chested mongrel dogs in which artificial intracoronary thrombi were formed. SK&F tPA was infused at rates of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 micrograms/kg/min (N = 3 to 5 per dose) for 90 min, and arterial blood samples were withdrawn during and after infusion for determination of functionally active tPA concentrations using a modified and validated S-2251 chromogenic assay. At all doses studied, steady state active tPA plasma concentrations were achieved 10-20 min after the onset of infusion. Upon cessation of infusion, active tPA plasma concentrations declined rapidly with a t1/2 of 2-3 min. The active tPA plasma concentration at steady state (Css) and the area under the tPA plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) increased linearly with the dose in the range of 0.5-4 micrograms/kg/min. However, as the dose was increased 2-fold from 4 to 8 micrograms/kg/min, the AUC and the Css increased 2.5-fold. The systemic clearance ranged from 15-16 ml/min/kg at doses of 0.5-4 micrograms/kg/min, but decreased to 11.7 ml/min/kg at the 8 micrograms/kg/min dose. With exceptions in three dogs, the volume of distribution at steady state approached or slightly exceeded the blood volume. Plasma tPA antigen concentrations were also determined in the dogs receiving the 2 micrograms/kg/min dose. At steady state, active tPA accounted for 40-60% of the total tPA antigen. The postinfusion t1/2 of the tPA antigen was considerably longer (13.46 +/- 5.94 min) than that of active tPA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Concentrations of cefotaxime in serum and myocardial tissue

Serum and myocardial concentrations of cefotaxime (CTX) were measured in 20 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. To all of these patients 1.0 g of CTX was given intravenously (in the range of 13.7--29.0 mg/kg) at the beginning of operation. The serum concentrations of CTX were determined at 5, 10, 30, 60 minutes and 120 minutes after administration. Myocardial concentrations of CTX were also determined at about 30 minutes (group I), 60 minutes (group II) and 120 minutes (group III). The following results were obtained. Average serum CTX concentrations were 132.8 +/- 34.1 micrograms/ml at 5 minutes, 92.0 +/- 23.1 micrograms/ml at 10 minutes, 44.6 +/- 12.3 micrograms/ml at 30 minutes, 24.5 +/- 7.7 micrograms/ml at 60 minutes and 12.3 +/- 4.9 micrograms/ml at 120 minutes after administration. Average myocardial CTX concentrations were 10.0 +/- 3.7 micrograms/g in group I, 3.6 +/- 2.1 micrograms/g in group II and 2.3 +/- 1.8 micrograms/g in group III. The myocardial/serum concentration ratio was 0.22 +/- 0.14 in group I, 0.15 +/- 0.08 in group II and 0.18 +/- 0.12 in group III, respectively. These results suggested that the serum and myocardial concentrations of CTX were high enough to be prophylactic and therapeutic against not only aerobic but also anaerobic and opportunistic infections during and after cardiac surgery.     

沙丁胺醇气雾剂在健康受试者体内的药物动力学和相对生物利用度

目的:研究沙丁胺醇气雾剂在健康受试者的药物动力学和生物利用度.方法:十名健康男性志愿者单剂量吸入1.2 mg沙丁胺醇气雾剂或口服沙丁胺醇水溶液.用HPLC法测定人血浆中沙丁胺醇浓度.以非房室模型计算药物动力学参数,计算气雾剂相对水溶液的生物利用度.结果:气雾剂和口服溶液的药物动力学参数如下:T_(max)(0.22±0.07)和(1.8±0.6)h,C_(max)(3.4±1.1)和(3.9±1.4)μg·L~(-1),T_(1/2)(4.5±1.5)和(4.6±1.1)h,AUC_(0-20min)(0.9±0.3)和(0.16±0.10)μg·h·L~(-1).两种给药途径的T_(max)和AUC_(0-20 min)之间差异显著(P<0.01).AUC_(0-20min)(nihal)为 AUC_(0-20 min)(po)的 8倍.沙丁胺醇气雾剂相对口服溶液的生物利用度为 57％±24％.结论:沙丁胺醇气雾剂在人体的吸收过程与口服溶液差异有显著性.     

A comparison of the extent and duration of hypokalaemia following three nebulized beta2-adrenoceptor agonists

Summary The hypokalaemic effects of equal doses (5 mg) of fenoterol, salbutamol, terbutaline and an equal volume of saline administered by nebulization were compared in eight healthy subjects. Plasma potassium was measured at 15-min intervals for 60 min and at 90 min, 2, 4 and 6 h following administration.Fenoterol, salbutamol and terbutaline all significantly decreased plasma potassium when compared to saline; however, the magnitude and duration of this effect differed between the active agents. Both fenoterol and terbutaline significantly reduced plasma potassium for 4 h whereas salbutamol was only different from 30 to 120 min. The maximum decrease occurred with fenoterol (–0.78 mmol/l), followed by terbutaline (–0.70 mmol/l) and salbutamol (–0.33 mmol/l). Both terbutaline and fenoterol had a significantly greater effect compared with salbutamol.When administered by nebulization fenoterol and terbutaline are likely to have a greater hypokalaemic effect then salbutamol and this effect is likely to be more long lasting.     

Effect of antiischemic therapy on coronary flow reserve and the pressure-maximal coronary flow relationship in anesthetized swine.

The effect of nifedipine (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 micrograms/kg/min), metoprolol (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg), the beta 1-selective adrenoceptor partial agonist epanolol (10, 50, and 200 micrograms/kg), or equivalent volumes of isotonic saline (n = 6, in each group), on coronary blood flow capacity were studied in anesthetized swine. Intracoronary bolus injections of adenosine (20 micrograms/kg/0.2 ml) were administered without and during three levels of coronary stenosis, prior to and following each dose of drug, to obtain maximal coronary blood flows at different perfusion pressures in the autoregulatory range. Coronary perfusion pressures were varied by partial inflation of a balloon around the left anterior descending coronary artery. Special care was taken that the stenoses not lead to myocardial ischemia. Three indices of coronary blood flow capacity were used: absolute coronary flow reserve (ACFR, the ratio of maximal to resting coronary blood flow), the slope and the extrapolated pressure at zero flow (Pzf) of the pressure-maximal coronary flow (PMCF) relationship, and relative coronary flow reserve (RCFR, the ratio of maximal coronary blood flow with a stenosis to maximal coronary blood flow without a stenosis) at two of the three levels of stenosis. Nifedipine decreased ACFR from 4.5 +/- 1.9 to 1.9 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- SD; p less than 0.05), reflecting in part the increase in resting coronary blood flow. The nifedipine-induced changes in maximal coronary blood flow were not only due to a drop in perfusion pressure, as the slope of the PMCF relationship decreased from 2.27 +/- 0.49 ml/(min.mm Hg) to 1.54 +/- 0.51 ml/(min.mm Hg) (p less than 0.05), and Pzf decreased from 30 +/- 4 mm Hg to 20 +/- 7 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). Consequently, calculated maximal coronary blood flow was attenuated from 114 +/- 31 ml/min to 93 +/- 37 ml/min at 80 mm Hg, but was enhanced from 23 +/- 13 to 37 +/- 24 ml/min at 40 mm Hg coronary perfusion pressure. In concert with the change in the PMCF relationship, RCFR at equivalent severe stenosis increased from 0.33 +/- 0.06 to 0.47 +/- 0.10 (p less than 0.05). No changes were observed with metoprolol, epanolol, or saline. The effect of nifedipine on the PMCF relationship not only provides a mechanism for the drug's antiischemic action, but should also be considered in the interpretation of coronary flow reserve measurements in patients on nifedipine treatment.     

Assay-dependent kinetics of heparin: evidence for rapid in vivo activation of heparin.

We have compared bronchodilator dose-response curves to inhaled salbutamol in seven normal and eight asthmatic subjects. In all normal subjects maximal bronchodilatation measured by partial flow volume curves was achieved at a cumulative dose of 110 micrograms. The dose necessary to produce half maximal response (ED50) was 23 +/- 2 micrograms (mean +/- s.e. mean) with a range of 18-28 micrograms. In asthmatic subjects maximal bronchodilatation measured by FEV1 and by maximal flow volume curves was achieved at significantly higher (P less than 0.01) doses of salbutamol with a mean ED50 of 83 +/- 28 micrograms and range of 25-251 micrograms. There was a significant (P less than 0.05) correlation between ED50 and % predicted baseline FEV1. This is more likely to reflect impaired access of drug for airway beta-adrenoceptors than impaired beta-adrenoceptor function in asthma. In five asthmatic subjects dose-response curves to salbutamol and isoprenaline were compared and found to be similar, thus providing no evidence that salbutamol is a partial agonist in vivo, as it appears to be in vitro.     

Disposition and bioavailability of various formulations of tetrahydrocannabinol in the rhesus monkey

Oral delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in gelatin capsules is under evaluation as an antiemetic agent in cancer patients, but knowledge concerning its bioavailability is incomplete and, furthermore, alternative routes of administration may be desirable. In this study, the disposition of THC was determined in four rhesus monkeys given 2.5-mg/kg doses using the following routes of administration and formulations: intravenous (iv); orally (po) on a cookie and in gelatin capsules; intramuscularly (im) in Tween-80 and in Emulphor-EL620; rectally in various suppository bases. Serum THC concentrations were measured by RIA and analyzed by weighted nonlinear regression. Serum concentrations were best described by a sum of two exponentials with alpha and beta half-lives (mean +/- SD) of 0.74 +/- 0.59 and 14.9 +/- 12.5 h. Apparent bioavailability (%F +/- SD) of various formulations of THC were: gelatin capsules, 26 +/- 14; cookie, 89 +/- 16; intramuscularly in Tween-80 and in Emulphor, 39 +/- 13 and 102 +/- 15, respectively. Using the method of statistical moments, mean residence times in the body (h +/- SD) were: intravenous, 6.08 +/- 1.60; cookie, 21.92 +/- 3.11; gelatin capsule, 26.80 +/- 23.61; intramuscularly in Emulphor, 10.92 +/- 3.46 (in Tween-80, not calculated). THC was not bioavailable by the rectal route. We conclude from this study that THC formulated as a gelatin capsule exhibits a low and variable extent of bioavailability and that intramuscular THC may be a useful alternative route of administration since it is more completely bioavailable.     

Delayed neurotoxicity of triphenyl phosphite in hens: Pharmacokinetic and biochemical studies

The organophosphorus compound, triphenyl phosphite (TPP), caused ataxia in chickens 8-14 days after single po or iv administration. The po and iv ED50 values were 1414 and 35.4 mg/kg, respectively. Chickens which developed ataxia lost 14.4 +/- 2.5% (mean +/- SEM, n = 14) of their initial weight at 28 days and the paralyzed birds showed a severe reduction of 29.3 +/- 2.9% (n = 13) of their initial weight at death or at 28 days after dosing. For the first 4-hr interval after iv injection of 50 mg/kg, the elimination of TPP from plasma consisted of at least two exponential phases; the half-lives of the first and second phases were approximately 30 and 60 min, respectively. When the birds received 100 mg/kg (iv) fatty tissue showed the highest TPP concentration, e.g., 215 micrograms/g fresh wt at 6 hr postdosing. The half-life was approximately 24 hr. Among neural tissues, the sciatic nerve had the highest concentration, followed by the spinal cord, the cerebellum, and the cerebrum. The red muscles, such as adductor magnus, contained about 4-30 times as much TPP as did the white muscles, such as biceps brachii, 6 hr after treatment. Time course effects of TPP treatment on mitochondrial enzymes in leg skeletal muscles were examined by treating hens with 50 mg/kg (iv) and euthanizing the birds at 6 hr to 8 days postdosing. The creatine kinase (CK) activities of the adductor and the soleus were significantly decreased at 2 (48 hr), 4, and 8 days, and at 4 and 8 days postdosing, respectively. Adductor magnus and soleus succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities were decreased markedly at 24 and 48 hr, and at 2 (48 hr), 4, and 8 days, respectively. Cytochrome oxidase (COD) activity in adductor magnus and soleus did not decrease during the time course. Biceps femoris CK, SDH, and COD activities were not affected by TPP treatment at this dosage. These results suggest that TPP administration affects the mitochondrial metabolism in skeletal muscle, especially red muscle of chickens.     

Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of S-(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamoyl)-N-acetyl-L-cysteine in rats

The metabolism and pharmacokinetics of a mixed disulfide S-(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamoyl)-N-acetyl-L-cysteine (AC-DDTC) were studied in rats. Two metabolites of AC-DDTC following i.v. and p.o. administration were identified in plasma and liver by HPLC and GC, namely N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) and the methyl ester of DDTC (Me-DDTC). AC-DDTC was very unstable in vivo and could not be detected neither in plasma nor in urine. Pharmacokinetic parameters of DDTC following intravenous administration of AC-DDTC (20 mg/kg) were calculated. DDTC has a low affinity to rat tissue and the total body clearance was 9.0 +/- 3.4 ml/min/kg. The mean residence time (MRT) was 111.5 +/- 16.3 min. After oral administration of 20 mg/kg AC-DDTC, maximal plasma concentration (Cmax) was 3.8 +/- 0.2 nmol/ml and the bioavailability was 7.04%. Cmax for DDTC at a dose of 120 mg/kg AC-DDTC was 40.1 +/- 2.2 nmol/ml. MRT was 47.1 +/- 2.8 min at a dose of 20 mg/kg and 110.5 +/- 6.0 min at 120 mg/kg.