Access of peripherally administered DuP 753 to rat brain angiotensin II receptors.

The in vivo access of the nonpeptide angiotensin II (Ang II) antagonist, DuP 753 (10 mg kg-1, i.v.), to Ang II receptors of rat brain was investigated by in vitro autoradiography with [125I]-[Sar1, Ile8] Ang II as a ligand. DuP 753 markedly inhibited the binding to sites which contain exclusively AT1 receptors both outside and within the blood brain barrier, such as the circumventricular organs, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, median preoptic nucleus and nucleus of the solitary tract. However, binding to other nuclei containing AT2 receptors was not significantly inhibited. These results demonstrate that DuP 753 and/or its active metabolite readily cross the blood brain barrier in vivo and selectively inhibit binding to AT1 receptors in specific brain nuclei.     

The metabolism of DuP 753, a nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist, by rat, monkey, and human liver slices.

The in vitro metabolism of DuP 753, a novel nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist, has been investigated in incubations with liver slice preparations from rats, monkeys and humans. Metabolites were identified by HPLC/MS, FAB/MS, Cl/MS, and/or 1H NMR. In the rat, the primary route of metabolism was oxidative, leading to either monohydroxylated or oxidized (carboxylic acid) metabolites, whereas in monkeys, glucuronidation of the tetrazole moiety predominated. An equal mixture of both oxidized and glucuronic acid-conjugated metabolites was isolated from incubations with human liver slices. All metabolites were tested in an in vitro assay to determine their activity as angiotensin II receptor antagonists. The monohydroxylated products and glucuronic acid conjugates were determined to be much less active than DuP 753. Biotransformation to the carboxylic acid, however, was shown to dramatically increase the activity of this agent. The in vivo duration of action of DuP 753 has been observed to be much longer in the rat than in the monkey. This may be explained, at least in part, by these in vitro metabolism studies. The predominance of glucuronidation observed in incubations with monkey liver slices would yield metabolites with diminished activity and might be expected to shorten the in vivo duration of DuP 753 in that species. The oxidative conversion to the carboxylic acid metabolite, along with the low level of glucuronidation observed in incubations with rat liver slices, may be responsible for the prolonged duration observed in vivo in the rat.     

Nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Studies with DuP 753 and EXP3174 in dogs.

DuP 753 (or EXP3174) and PD123177 are nonpeptide angiotensin (AII)-specific ligands, which show high affinities for two AII receptor subtypes, i.e. AT1 and AT2 sites, respectively. In furosemide-treated conscious dogs with high renin, DuP 753 and EXP3714, but not PD123177, were as effective as captopril in lowering blood pressure. Both DuP 753 and EXP3174 exhibited selective vascular antagonism of AII. In conscious dogs with normal renin, DuP 753, but not captopril or EXP3174, caused a dose-dependent but transient decrease in blood pressure. In anesthetized dogs, DuP 753 and captopril caused similar renal vasodilatation and natriuresis. The renal hemodynamic effects of DuP 753 and captopril were more pronounced in dogs with sodium depletion. These results suggest that the AT1 receptor mediates the pressor and renal effects of AII in dogs. The acute transient hypotensive effect of DuP 753 in normal-renin conscious dogs is probably unrelated to AII antagonism.     

Enhancement of losartan (DuP 753)-induced angiotensin II receptor antagonism by PD123177 in rats

Losartan (DuP 753) and PD123177 are angiotensin II type 1 (AT₁) and type 2 (AT₂) receptor selective ligands, respectively. In rats, PD123177 did not exhibit angiotensin II antagonism or hypotensive activity but enhanced these activities of a submaximal dose of losartan. As PD123177 displaced losartan from its rat plasma protein binding sites and thus increased the free concentration of losartan, this may account for its enhancement of the in vivo activities of losartan in rats.     

DuP 753, a nonpeptide angiotensin II-1 receptor antagonist,alters dopaminergic function in rat striatum

Summary The purpose of this study was to determine if the nonpeptide angiotensin II-1 receptor antagonist DuP 753 after, acute or chronic administration in vivo or after in vitro exposure, altered indices of dopaminergic function in rat striatum. In vivo studies examined the effect of acute and chronic 21-day administration of DuP 753 (10 mg/kg, s.c.) on levels of dopamine (DA) and its metabolite, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). To determine if chronic treatment with DuP 753 was able to inhibit the pressor response to angiotensin II, a single i.v. dose of angiotensin II (0.1 g/kg) was administered 18 hours after the last dose of DuP 753. Acute DuP 753 resulted in significantly decreased (14%) levels of DA. Chronic DuP 753 resulted in increased (1.64 fold) levels of DOPAC, although DA levels were not altered. The single i.v. administration of angiotensin II resulted in increased (88%) DOPAC levels regardless of chronic DuP 753.The in vitro effect of DuP 753 (0.1 nM–1.0 M) on basal and field stimulation-evoked release of DA and DOPAC was determined in superfused striatal slices from drug naive rats. DA was not detected in these experiments. DuP 753 did not alter basal outflow of DOPAC. At low concentrations (1.0–10 nM), DuP 753 decreased (53%) stimulation-evoked DOPAC overflow; however, at concentrations greater than 10 nM, the inhibitory effect was diminished. Nomifensine (10 M; a DA uptake inhibitor) was included in the superfusion buffer in order to measure the effect of DuP 753 on the concentration of DA in superfusate. DuP 753 had no effect on basal DA and DOPAC outflow. Nomifensine markedly potentiated the DuP 753-induced decrease in stimulation-evoked DOPAC and DA overflow. Pargyline (10 M; a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor) was included with nomifensine in the superfusion buffer to examine the contribution of MAO to the DuP 753-induced decrease in dopaminergic neurotransmission. The effect of DuP 753 on DA overflow was not altered by the presence of pargyline. Additionally, angiotensin II (1 and 10 M) increased the overflow of DOPAC from striatal slices under control conditions. Therefore, the results in vitro suggest that acutely the agonist increases DA neurotransmission and the antagonist decreases DA neurotransmission. In contrast, chronic in vivo adminitration of DuP 753 resulted in increased striatal DOPAC levels indicative of an increased dopaminergic neurotransmission. Therefore, chronic in vivo administration of DuP 753 appears to result in a compensatory response of the dopaminergic system in striatum. Send offprint requests to L.P. Dwoskin at the above addressThis study was supported by a grant from the American Heart Association (Local Kentucky Affiliate). Portions of the results were presented in preliminary form at the Federation of American Society for Experimental Biology in Atlanta, GA, April, 1991     

Cardiac haemodynamic effects of the non-peptide, angiotensin II-receptor antagonist, DuP 753, in conscious Long Evans and Brattleboro rats.

1. In previous experiments in conscious, water-replete Long Evans and Brattleboro rats the non-peptide angiotensin II-receptor antagonist, DuP 753, caused only slight hypotension and peripheral (particularly renal) vasodilatations. However in water-deprived (i.e. renin-dependent) Brattleboro rats, DuP 753 caused marked hypotension and regional vasodilatations. The major objective of the present study was to determine if the hypotensive effects of DuP 753 under any of the experimental conditions studied previously were contributed to by negative effects on cardiac haemodynamics. 2. Male, Long Evans and Brattleboro rats were chronically instrumented with electromagnetic flow probes on the ascending aorta and with intravascular catheters. Data were collected by use of a microcomputer-based system that provided digitised print-out of instantaneous heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume, peak aortic flow, maximum positive slope of the aortic flow signal (+ dF/dtmax), total peripheral conductance and central venous pressure. 3. Incremental i.v. bolus doses (0.1-10 mg kg-1, at 15 min intervals) of DuP 753 were administered to water-replete Long Evans (n = 8) and Brattleboro (n = 8) rats, and to water-deprived (14 h) Brattleboro rats (n = 9) (the latter animals show marked activation of the renin-angiotensin system). In all groups, 15 min after the highest dose of DuP 753 had been given, a supramaximal dose of captopril (2 mg kg-1) was injected to determine if it had any additional effects. 4. In water-replete, Long Evans and Brattleboro rats, DuP 753 (0.1-1 mg kg-1) caused slight, transient hypotension, with rises in total peripheral conductance; increases in cardiac output, peak aortic flow, + dF/dtmax and stroke volume were inconsistent and central venous pressure did not change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Angiotensin II receptor recognized by DuP753 regulates two distinct guanine nucleotide-binding protein signaling pathways.

The 7315c cell, derived from a rat anterior pituitary tumor, expresses an angiotensin II (AII) receptor. [3H]AII binds to 7315c membranes specifically and saturably (Kd = 2.1 +/- 0.6 x 10(-6) M, Bmax = 282 +/- 33 fmol/mg of protein). GTP diminished the affinity of the membranes for [3H]AII (Kd = 4.1 +/- 0.4 x 10(-9) M, Bmax = 210 +/- 26 fmol/mg of protein). [3H]AII binding was displaced by AII (Ki = 1.3 +/- 0.6 x 10(-9) M), angiotensin III (AIII) (Ki = 0.9 +/- 0.4 x 10(-9) M), and the nonpeptide AII antagonist DuP753 (Ki = 1.4 +/- 0.6 x 10(-8) M). In contrast, a second nonpeptide AII ligand, PD123177, did not compete for [3H]AII binding sites. In intact cells, AII and AIII stimulated inositol trisphosphate (IP3) production (EC50 = 1.1 +/- 0.6 x 10(-8) M and 1.1 +/- 0.5 x 10(-8) M, respectively); this response to AII was antagonized by DuP753 (Ki = 1.7 +/- 0.3 x 10(-7) M). Pertussis toxin treatment failed to affect the ability of AII to stimulate IP3 production. In a crude membrane preparation, GTP was required for maximal AII-induced IP3 stimulation; guanosine thio-diphosphate abolished the agonist-GTP stimulation of IP3 production, in a concentration-dependent fashion. AII and AIII also inhibited adenylyl cyclase (EC50 = 2.9 +/- 1.1 x 10(-8) M and 6.0 +/- 1.0 x 10(-8) M, respectively). DuP753 antagonized the inhibition by AII of adenylyl cyclase (Ki = 2.8 +/- 0.4 x 10(-8) M). PD123177 failed to antagonize AII-induced cyclase inhibition. Pertussis toxin treatment abolished the AII and AIII inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. GTP was required for AII-induced inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. These data suggest that, in 7315c cells, a single subtype of AII receptor, identified by DuP753, is capable of regulating two different guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) signalling pathways; one G protein, which is insensitive to pertussis toxin, stimulates IP3 production and the other G protein, which is sensitive to pertussis toxin, inhibits adenylyl cyclase.     

Solubilization of an angiotensin II binding site from rat liver

The high affinity binding sites for angiotensin II were solubilized from rat liver membranes by treatment with CHAPS. The binding protein was also partially purified by angiotensin III inhibitor-coupled Affi-gel affinity chromatography. Binding to the intact membranes as well as to the solubilized preparation was specific and saturable. According to the Scatchard plot, the membrane preparations exhibited a single class of high affinity binding sites with aKd of 0.71 nM. The solubilized preparation also showed the presence of a single class of binding sites with less affinity (Kd of 14 nM). Meanwhile the competition studies using angiotensin II analogues represented two separate binding sites for angiotensin II and single binding site for antagonist. These latter findings were correlated to the results provided by Garrison's research group. More works are needed to clarify this discrepancy.     

Comparative effects of angiotensin II and its degradation products angiotensin III and angiotensin IV in rat aorta.

1. In the present study, the contractile effects of angiotensin III (AIII) and angiotensin IV (AIV) compared with those of angiotensin II (AII) were determined in rat aortic ring preparations. 2. All three peptides caused concentration-dependent contractions with similar maximal responses. AIII proved approximately 4 times less potent than AII, whereas AIV was about 1000 times less active than AII. 3. The selective AT1-receptor antagonist, losartan (10-300 nM) caused parallel rightward shifts of the concentration-response curves (CRC) for all three peptides. The Schild plot slopes for the effect of losartan on AIII curves were significantly lower than unity (P < 0.05). The selective AT2-receptor antagonist, PD123177 did not influence the CRCs for AII and AIV. However, the AIII curves were moderately shifted leftward in the presence of PD123177 (0.1 and 1 microM). 4. Destruction of the endothelium or incubation with the NO-synthesis inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA) (0.1 mM) significantly enhanced the contractile responses to all three peptides. 5. Tachyphylaxis was investigated by constructing a second CRC for all three peptides, after an interval of 1 h. The presence of endothelium significantly enhanced the development of tachyphylaxis to all three peptides. However, in endothelium-denuded preparations, the Emax value of the second curve elicited by AII was about 50%, compared with the first one, whereas for AIII and AIV Emax values were as high as 90% and 100%, respectively. 6. Our results indicate that both AIII and AIV are less potent but similarly efficacious vasoconstrictor agents compared with AII. Their contractile effects are also mediated by AT1-receptors and probably modulated by endothelium. Tachyphylaxis induced by AIII and AIV proved weaker than that for AII. Tachyphylaxis appears to be enhanced by the presence of an intact endothelium.     

A non-radioactive method for angiotensin II receptor binding studies using the rat liver

INTRODUCTION: A new non-radioactive method based on competitive ELISA has been developed for binding studies on angiotensin II (Ang II) receptors. METHOD: Rat liver membrane was used as the source of angiotensin receptors and FITC-angiotensin II (FITC-Ang II) was used as the labeled ligand with an affinity similar to unlabeled Ang II. The effects of different concentrations of Ang II, losartan, CGP-42112A and saralasin were studied on FITC-Ang II binding. RESULTS: The Ki values for Ang II, losartan and CGP-42112A were calculated as 0.52+/-0.22 nM, 6+/-3 nM and 0.15+/-0.07 nM, respectively. Saralasin inhibited the binding of labeled ligand biphasically, revealing two different populations of Ang receptor with different affinities for saralasin. About 74% of the binding sites were more sensitive to saralasin with a Ki value of 0.32+/-0.04 nM while saralasin showed a Ki value of 2.7+/-0.8 nM for the remaining binding sites. DISCUSSION: The competitive ELISA method developed in this work yields Ki values for angiotensin antagonists similar to those obtained by others using radiolabeled ligands. The simplicity of this method makes it a suitable alternative to radioligand studies for routine analysis of interaction of drugs with angiotensin receptors.     

Inhibitory effects of angiotensin II on barosensitive rostral ventrolateral medulla neurons of the rat

1. The brain renin-angiotensin system can influence arterial baroreceptor reflex control of blood pressure (BP) through both direct and indirect effects on sympathetic premotor neurons of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). The present study examined the direct effect of angiotensin (Ang) II applied by microiontophoresis on the ongoing activity of single RVLM neurons. 2. In 26 urethane-anaesthetized Wistar rats, recordings of single unit activities of barosensitive RVLM neurons were made from one barrel of a six-barrel micropipette assembly. The other five barrels were filled with either L-glutamate, AngII, valsartan (an AT1 receptor antagonist), PD 123177 (an AT2 receptor antagonist) and saline. All drugs were applied by microiontophoresis. 3. Mean BP was 83 +/- 3 mmHg. Application of AngII inhibited the ongoing activity of RVLM neurons, identified as barosensitive because their activity was inhibited by a phenylephrine- induced increase in BP, from 12.6 +/- 1.5 to 5.4 +/- 1.1 Hz (n=24; P < 0.001). Angiotensin II also inhibited the glutamate-evoked excitation of barosensitive RVLM neurons from 15 +/- 3 to 5.8 +/- 2.0 Hz (n=6; P < 0.001). Valsartan significantly increased neuronal activity from 9.5 +/- 2.3 to 13.5 +/- 3.2 Hz (n=7, P < 0.01), whereas PD 123177 significantly decreased neuronal activity from 13.5 +/- 3.5 to 9.9 +/- 2.8 Hz (n=13; P < 0.01). 4. The results suggest that AngII exerts a tonic inhibitory effect on barosensitive RVLM neurons, which is presumably mediated through AT1 receptor stimulation.     

Direct positive chronotropic effects of angiotensin II and angiotensin III in pithed rats and in rat isolated atria.

1. The direct positive chronotropic effects of angiotensin II (AII) and its degradation products angiotensin III (AIII) and angiotensin IV (AIV) were established in pithed rats and in rat spontaneously beating right atria. 2. In pithed rats, AII, AIII and AIV caused dose-dependent tachycardia with similar maximal responses (110 beats min-1). The beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol (3.37 x 10(-6) mol kg-1) but not the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (2.38 x 10(-7) mol kg-1) significantly reduced these effects (P < 0.05; n = 7-8), but 20-25% of the responses could not be blocked by propranolol. 3. In isolated atria, AII, AIII and AIV caused concentration-dependent increases in beating rate with similar maximal responses to AII and AIII (34.3 +/- 0.4 and 34.7 +/- 0.4 beats min-1; n = 9-10), and a lower maximal response to AIV (26.8 +/- 0.6 beats min-1; P < 0.05; n = 8). AIII was about 9 times less potent than AII, whereas AIV proved approximately 3800 times less potent than AII. Neither propranolol (1 microM) nor prazosin (1 microM) could influence the effects of the angiotensin peptides. 4. In isolated atria, the selective AT1-receptor antagonist, losartan (10, 100 and 300 nM) caused parallel rightward shifts of the concentration-response curves for AII and AIII, whereas the selective AT2- receptor antagonist PD123177 (1 microM) did not influence the effects of AII and AIII. The aminopeptidase-A and -M inhibitor amastatin (10 microM), significantly steepened the slope of the AIII curves and increased the potency of AIII about 6 fold. Amastatin did not influence the responses to AII. 5. Our results indicate that both in vivo and in vitro, exogenous AII and AIII induced a direct dose-dependent chronotropic effect, which is independent of the adrenergic system. This chronotropic effect is mediated by AT1-subtype receptors.     

Participation of angiotensin receptors in acute hypoxia in mice. II. Effects of angiotensin II nonpeptide receptor ligands losartan (DuP-753) and PD-123319.

The effects of intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administered angiotensin nonpeptide receptor ligands losartan (DuP-753) and PD-123319 and their interactions with Ang II were examined on acute anoxic hypoxia in male mice. Results showed that losartan and PD-123319 exerted antihypoxic effects including increased latency to convulsive seizures and survival time and pretreatment with both drugs enhanced Ang II-increased survival time. Taken together, the results suggest that the antihypoxic effect of losartan and PD-123319 is most likely due to action on brain AT1 and AT2 receptors with both drugs behaving as partial agonists.     

Pilot study of the uricosuric effect of DuP-753, a new angiotensin II receptor antagonist,in healthy subjects

Summary The uricosuric effect of DuP-753, a novel, specific angiotensin II receptor antagonist, has been explored in a healthy male Japanese volunteers, given single oral doses of 25, 50, 100 or 200 mg (n=6), or 100 mg (n=6) or placebo (n=3) once daily for 7 consecutive days.In the single-dose study, serum uric acid measured at 4 h after dosing showed a dose dependent decrease; the reductions from the corresponding pre-dose values were: 0.32 (25 mg), 0.77 (50 mg), 1.25 (100 mg) and 1.33 mg dl^–1 (200 mg). The urinary excretion of uric acid within the first 4 h after treatment was also increased in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the urinary excretion of creatinine remained unchanged.In the multiple-dose study, DuP-753 significantly decreased the serum uric acid concentration measured 4 h both after the first (pre-dose value: 5.68 vs 4 h after: 4.48 mg·dl^–1) and last administrations (4.42 mg·dl^–1). Simultaneously, the ratio of urinary uric acid to creatinine excretion was significantly increased within the first 4 h both after the first (DuP-753: 1.190 vs placebo: 0.576) and last administrations (1.02 vs 0.576).The findings suggest that DuP-753 posesses a uricosuric effect both after single and multiple doses in healthy subjects. The effect should be further examined in hypertensive patients.     

Effects of prostaglandins and nitric oxide on the renal effects of angiotensin II in the anaesthetized rat

1. The potential influences of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins on the renal effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) have been investigated in the captopril-treated anaesthetized rat by examining the effect of indomethacin or the NO synthase inhibitor, N^ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on the renal responses obtained during infusion of Ang II directly into the renal circulation.
2. Intrarenal artery (i.r.a.) infusion of Ang II (1–30 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹) elicited a dose-dependent decrease in renal vascular conductance (RVC; −38±3% at 30 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹; P<0.01) and increase in filtration fraction (FF; +49±8%; P<0.05) in the absence of any change in carotid mean arterial blood pressure (MBP). Urine output (Uv), absolute (UNaV) and fractional sodium excretion (FENa), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were unchanged during infusion of Ang II 1–30 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ (+6±17%, +11±17%, +22±23%, and −5±9%, respectively, at 30 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹). At higher doses, Ang II (100 and 300 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹) induced further decreases in RVC, but with associated increases in MBP, Uv and UNaV.
3. Pretreatment with indomethacin (10 mg kg⁻¹ i.v.) had no significant effect on basal renal function, or on the Ang II-induced reduction in RVC (−25±7% vs −38±3% at Ang II 30 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹). In the presence of indomethacin, Ang II tended to cause a dose-dependent decrease in GFR (−38±10% at 30 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹); however, this effect was not statistically significant (P=0.078) when evaluated over the dose range of 1–30 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹, and was not accompanied by any significant changes in Uv, UNaV or FENa (−21±12%, −18±16% and +36±38%, respectively).
4. Pretreatment with L-NAME (10 μg kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ i.v.) tended to reduce basal RVC (control −11.8±1.4, +L-NAME −7.9±1.8 ml min⁻¹ mmHg⁻¹×10⁻²), and significantly increased basal FF (control +15.9±0.8, +L-NAME +31.0±3.7%). In the presence of L-NAME, renal vasoconstrictor responses to Ang II were not significantly modified (−38±3% vs −35±13% at 30 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹), but Ang II now induced dose-dependent decreases in GFR, Uv and UNaV (−51±11%, −41±14% and −31±17%, respectively, at an infusion rate of Ang II, 30 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹). When evaluated over the range of 1–30 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹, the effect of Ang II on GFR and Uv were statistically significant (P<0.05), but on UNaV did not quite achieve statistical significance (P=0.066). However, there was no associated change in FENa observed, suggesting a non-tubular site of interaction between Ang II and NO.
5. In contrast to its effects after pretreatment with L-NAME alone, Ang II (1–30 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹) failed to reduce renal vascular conductance in rats pretreated with the combination of L-NAME and the selective angiotensin AT₁ receptor antagonist, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"GR117289","term_id":"238364164","term_text":"GR117289"}}GR117289 (1 mg kg⁻¹ i.v.). This suggests that the renal vascular effects of Ang II are mediated through AT₁ receptors. Over the same dose range, Ang II also failed to significantly reduce GFR or Uv.
6. In conclusion, the renal haemodynamic effects of Ang II in the rat kidney appear to be modulated by cyclooxygenase-derived prostaglandins and NO. The precise site(s) of such an interaction cannot be determined from the present data, but the data suggest complex interactions at the level of the glomerulus.

     

The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of DuP 532, a non-peptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist,in rats and dogs

DuP 532, 2-propyl-4-pentafluoroethyl-1-{[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl] methyl} imidazole-5-carboxylic acid, is an orally active, non-peptide angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonist. DuP 532 is more potent and longer acting than losartan, another AII receptor antagonist currently undergoing phase III clinical trials. The pharmacokinetics and the effect of the salt form on the bioavailability of DuP 532 were determined in rats and dogs. In rats, the absolute oral bioavailability and half-life averaged 8·0% and 3·5 h, respectively, after the sodium bicarbonate solution and 7·6% and 3·6 h, respectively, after the methyl cellulose suspension. In dogs, the absolute oral bioavailability averaged 13.4% after the sodium bicarbonate solution and 11·9% after hard gelatin capsules containing the neat powder. The data demonstrated that there were no differences in bioavailability between the free acid and the sodium salt of DuP 532 after oral administration to rats and dogs. The in vitro metabolism of ¹⁴C-DuP 532 was evaluated with rat, dog, and human liver microsomes. HPLC analyses with UV and radiochemical flow detection showed that recovery of DuP 532 was greater than 99%, suggesting that there was little if any metabolism by liver microsomal enzymes. Therefore, the low oral bioavailability in rats was probably due to poor absorption of DuP 532 from the GI tract rather than extensive metabolism.