Disposition of radiolabelled suppositories in humans

The disposition of Witepsol H 15 suppositories radiolabelled with [99mTc] technetium hydroxymethyldiphosphonate was studied after rectal administration in volunteers. The migration of the radiolabel was monitored continuously by external scintigraphy. The resulting scintiphotos were superimposed on lower GI radiographs to determine the extent of spreading of the dosage form in the rectum. The dosage form migrated approximately 5-7 cm into the rectum in nearly all of the studies and was, in general, confined to the lower and middle regions of the rectum. Since the venous supply to the lower rectum leads primarily to the inferior vena cava, the data presented here indicate that the metabolism of drugs sensitive to the 'first-pass' effect may be partially avoided by their rectal administration.     

Disposition and metabolism of letosteine in rats

The metabolism and disposition of letosteine, labeled either with 14C or 35S, has been investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. In separate experiments, rats received 20 mg/kg, iv or orally, [14C]letosteine or [35S]letosteine. Radioactivity was rapidly excreted, mainly in urine, after iv and oral administration. Recovery of radioactivity from 0-72-hr excreta averaged 95% after both routes of [14C]letosteine administration, whereas only 50% was recovered when [35S]letosteine was administered. 14CO2 accounted for about 7.3% (iv) and 5.1% (po) of the dose of [14C]letosteine. Comparison of the iv and oral areas under the plasma 14C radioactivity concentration-time curves suggested that oral absorption of letosteine was complete. Analysis of the radioactivity content of urine showed that letosteine undergoes rapid and extensive metabolism. Several metabolites were identified by TLC, HPLC, and MS. The findings are consistent with a splitting of the ester group of letosteine and subsequent cleavage of the thiazolidinyl ring, yielding cysteine, hypotaurine, taurine, and inorganic sulfate. The metabolite derived from the side chain was identified in the urine as 3-(hydroxycarbonylmethylthio)propanoic acid. It undergoes further oxidation into sulfoxide and sulfone derivatives, which are also present in the urine.     

Disposition and metabolism of diphenyl ether in rats

After i.p. administration of [14C]diphenyl ether (5 mg/kg) to rats, radioactivity was detected rapidly in all organs and tissues. After intragastric administration of [14C]diphenyl ether (10 mg/kg) to rats, unchanged diphenyl ether in the blood was at max. concn. within 15 h and decreased linearly with time, with a biological half-life of about 1.5 h. More than 90% of the intragastrically administered dose was excreted in urine and faeces within three days; greater than 80% dose was in the urine. From g.l.c. and mass-spectral data, it was shown that rats metabolized diphenyl ether to its 2-hydroxy, 4-hydroxy, 4,4'-dihydroxy, 4-methoxy-monohydroxy and 4-methoxy-dihydroxy derivatives.     

Disposition and metabolism of 1,6-dimethylnaphthalene in rats

The distribution, excretion and metabolism of 1,6-dimethylnaphthalene following i.p. administration of a single dose of 20 mg/kg to rats, was investigated using radiotracer [3H] and a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique (GC-MS). After 72 h, about 94% of the given dose was excreted in urine and feces. In organs and tissues, the highest concentration during the first hours after administration was detected in fat, liver, spleen and kidneys. Then gradual decline of tritium was noticed in all examined tissues. In urine, the following substances were identified and quantified by GC peak areas: unchanged 1,6-dimethylnaphthalene, 1-methyl-hydroxynaphthalenes, 1-hydroxymethyl-6-methylnaphthalene, 1,6-dimethyl-thionaphthalene, 6-methyl-1-naphthoic aldehyde, 6-methyl-1-naphthoic acid, 1,6-dimethyl-thionaphthalene and 1,6-dimethyl-methylthionaphthalene.     

Disposition kinetics and metabolism of nicotine-1'-N-oxide in rabbits.

The disposition kinetics and metabolism of nicotine-1'-N-oxide (NNO) are of interest as the reduction of NNO might influence the pharmacokinetics of nicotine in tobacco users. The disposition kinetics of nicotine-1'-N-oxide were characterized in New Zealand rabbits. The clearance of NNO averaged 7.5 ml/min/kg. The half-life averaged 42.6 min and VDss was 0.34 liter/kg. The oral and ip bioavailabilities were 15.1 and 79%, respectively. NNO was reduced to nicotine and cotinine following i.v., oral, and ip injection. The pattern of metabolites after iv dosing suggests that there is systemic reduction of NNO, although the magnitude of that reduction is small, with less than 3% reduced to nicotine. Following oral NNO, 45% was reduced, with a metabolite pattern consistent with presystemic (bacterial or intestinal) metabolism.     

Studies on the disposition and metabolism of pentachloroanisole in female mice

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been shown to be methylated to O-methyl-PCP, pentachloroanisole (PCA), in various biological systems. The disposition and metabolism of PCA were studied in female mice to which the compound was administered at a dose of 20 mg [¹⁴C]PCA/kg. Elimination of [¹⁴C]PCA equivalents from mouse tissues was rapid, with half-lives ranging from 5 to 10 hr in all tissues examined except liver. Excretion of ¹⁴C was primarily via the urine, in which a PCP conjugate, free PCP, and an oxidation product, tetrachlorohydroquinone, were demonstrated. Free PCP and its conjugate were also present in feces. There was no evidence for the presence of parent PCA in either urine or feces. Thus the half-lives of elimination and metabolite patterns resulting from treatment of mice with PCA approximated those seen following PCP administration to rodents. These data suggest that PCA must be demethylated prior to excretion.     

Disposition and metabolism of almotriptan in rats, dogs and monkeys

Almotriptan is a new highly potent selective 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist developed for the treatment of migraine, and the disposition of almotriptan in different animal species is now addressed in the current study. Almotriptan was well absorbed in rats (69.1%) and dogs (100%) following oral treatment. The absolute bioavailability was variable reflecting different degrees of absorption and first-pass metabolism (18.7-79.6%). The elimination half-life was short and ranged between 0.7 and 3 h. The main route of elimination of almotriptan was urine with 75.6% and 80.4% of the dose recovered over a 168-h period in rats and dogs, respectively. The gamma-aminobutyric acid metabolite formed by oxidation of the pyrrolidine ring was the main metabolite found in urine, faeces, bile, and plasma of rats and in monkey urine. By contrast, the unchanged drug, the indole acetic acid metabolite formed by oxidative deamination of the dimethylaminoethyl group, and the N-oxide metabolite were the main metabolites in dog.     

Disposition and metabolism of almotriptan in rats,dogs and monkeys

Almotriptan is a new highly potent selective 5-HT_1B/1D receptor agonist developed for the treatment of migraine, and the disposition of almotriptan in different animal species is now addressed in the current study. Almotriptan was well absorbed in rats (69.1%) and dogs (100%) following oral treatment. The absolute bioavailability was variable reflecting different degrees of absorption and first-pass metabolism (18.7–79.6%). The elimination half-life was short and ranged between 0.7 and 3?h. The main route of elimination of almotriptan was urine with 75.6% and 80.4% of the dose recovered over a 168-h period in rats and dogs, respectively. The γ-aminobutyric acid metabolite formed by oxidation of the pyrrolidine ring was the main metabolite found in urine, faeces, bile, and plasma of rats and in monkey urine. By contrast, the unchanged drug, the indole acetic acid metabolite formed by oxidative deamination of the dimethylaminoethyl group, and the N-oxide metabolite were the main metabolites in dog.     

Disposition and metabolism of the novel antihypertensive agent alacepril in rats

Disposition and metabolism of 1-[(S)-3-acetylthio-2-methylpropanoyl]-L-prolyl-L-phenylalanine (alacepril, DU-1219) in rats were studied and compared to those of 1-[(S)-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoyl]-L-proline (captopril), using 14C-labeled compounds. Some tissue homogenates and plasma of rats were incubated in vitro with [14C]alacepril or [14C]captopril at the concentration of 50 nmol/ml. For in vivo studies, radioactive agents were orally or intravenously administered to rats in doses of 46 mumol/kg (18.7 and 10 mg/kg for alacepril and captopril, respectively) or 460 mumol/kg. In vitro studies revealed that [14C]alacepril is converted to captopril via desacetyl-alacepril (DU-1227) in the liver, kidney and intestine homogenates, but not in the lung homogenate and plasma where deacetylation alone occurred. DU-1227 and captopril formed were found to be partly bound with endogenous -SH compounds i.e. cysteine, glutathione and probably, protein. 1 h after oral administration of [14C]alacepril, plasma levels of total radioactivity reached a maximum of 8 nmol/ml and disappeared with t1/2 of 2.6 h. [14C]Captopril radioactivity was maximum (13 nmol/ml) at 40 min with the disappearance t1/2 of 1.9 h. Similarly to total radioactivity, levels of radioactivity unbound and bound to plasma protein after [14C]alacepril were lower at maximum and disappeared more slowly than those after [14C]captopril. After oral administration of [14C]alacepril, DU-1227, captopril and mixed disulfides of captopril with cysteine and glutathione were detected in the plasma unbound fraction. The three metabolites except for DU-1227 were commonly detected after [14C]captopril.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Disposition and metabolism of [14C]loperamide in rats

Following oral administration of [14C]loperamide hydrochloride in 1 mg/kg to rats, plasma levels of radioactivity reached maximum at 4 hrs and decreased with a half-life of 4.1 hrs. Radioactivity in 96-hr feces accounted for 95% of the dose, with 30% associated with unchanged drug, while that in urine only 3.5%. Radioactivity in 48-hr bile accounted for 42% of the dose associated entirely with metabolites. 3% of the dose was found at the level of the enterohepatic cycles. These findings show that about 70% of the dose with absorbed by intestine, the target tissue of the drug, a portion (30%) of which was excreted back into intestinal cavity after demethylation, while the remaining 40% transferred to liver by which it was extracted mostly, metabolized extensively and excreted largely into bile, as supported by in vitro demethylating activity in gut segments but none in gut contents, and by in situ marked hepatic extraction of the drug. Main metabolic pathways involved are described.     

Disposition and metabolism of [14C]-amezinium metilsulfate in rats

Disposition and metabolism of [14C]-amezinium metilsulfate (4-amino-6-methoxy-1-phenylpyridazinium methylsulfate, Risumic) were systematically studied in rats after intravenous (5 mg/kg) or oral (20, 100 mg/kg) administration. After oral administration at 20 mg/kg, blood level reached the maximum (Cmax) of 0.65 microgram eq/ml at 3 h (tmax) and decreased with t1/2 of 8.1 h. Levels in plasma and most tissues elevated to the Cmax at 3 h. The liver level was the highest (61 times as high as plasma level) of all examined tissues. Most tissue levels decreased thereafter essentially in parallel with plasma levels. The findings by whole-body autoradiography essentially agreed with those by radiometry. In lactating rats, milk levels were virtually similar to plasma levels. [14C]-Amezinium metilsulfate radioactivity in fetus and fetal blood was around 0.3 microgram eq/g, being about 1/10 level of maternal plasma level. About 24, 72 and 42% were excreted in urine, feces and bile, respectively. Re-absorption of biliary metabolites accounted for about 31%, being about 13% of orally given [14C]-amezinium metilsulfate. Plasma and aorta contained unchanged amezinium and glucuronide of hydroxyl amezinium MIII. In the brain, the major metabolite was O-demethyl amezinium MV and unchanged drug was not detected. Urinary metabolites were largely MIII glucuronide and the unchanged drug. Biliary metabolite was found composed mostly from MIII glucuronide. In feces, MIII and the unchanged amezinium were found. MIII and its glucuronide were novel metabolites which were identified by thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometry.     

Disposition and excretion of cefoperazone in rabbits

The pharmacokinetics of cefoperazone were studied after i.v. administration of a single 30 mg/kg dose in a total of 40 New Zealand rabbits. Determination of the plasma levels of the drug revealed a slow elimination half-life of 0.48 h. The disappearance half-life of cefoperazone in interstitial tissue fluid shows a mean value of 1.9 h, being statistically higher than the value found for the half-life of the slow phase of elimination from the systemic circulation. 12 h after i.v. administration, 32.1% of the drug was seen to be excreted by the kidney and a further 15.2% in bile. The urinary excretion constant had a mean value of 0.29 h-1, whereas that of biliary excretion was 0.12 h-1.     

Disposition and metabolism of pravastatin sodium in rats, dogs and monkeys.

Pravastatin sodium (pravastatin) is a potent inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, and was found to be highly effective in animals and humans, in lowering the plasma cholesterol level by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis selectively in the liver. In the present study the disposition and metabolism of pravastatin was studied in rats, dogs and monkeys using [14C]-labelled compound. The extent of absorption was approximately 70% in rats and 50% in dogs. Tissue distribution examined by both whole-body autoradiography and radioactivity measurement demonstrated that the drug was selectively taken up by the liver, a target organ of the drug, and excreted via bile mainly in unchanged form. Since pravastatin excreted by the bile was reabsorbed, the enterohepatic circulation maintained the presence of unchanged pravastatin in the target organ. The profiles of metabolites were studied in various tissues and excreta and a metabolic pathway of pravastatin was proposed.     

Teratogenic potential of purified pentachlorophenol and pentachloroanisole in subchronically exposed Sprague-Dawley rats

Male and female Sprague-Dawley (Spartan) rats were exposed to dietary levels of 0, 60, 200 or 600 ppm purified pentachlorophenol (PCP) or pentachloroanisole (PCA) for 181 days, through mating and pregnancy. The daily intakes of PCP were 0, 4, 13 or 43 mg/kg body weight and of PCA were 0, 4, 12 or 41 mg/kg body weight. Animals exposed to PCP generally consumed more food than control animals during pregnancy. Dams at the high-dose level of both compounds showed evidence of toxicity, weighing less on day 0 of gestation and gaining less throughout pregnancy than did the controls. Dams exposed to the high dose of PCP gained less weight during pregnancy (exclusive of the gravid uterus) than control dams. At the 43 mg/kg/day dose level PCP was embryolethal. Foetuses at the lower dose levels of PCP exhibited dose-related decreases in body weights. A reduction in crown-rump length and an increase in foetal skeletal variations were seen at 13 mg/kg/day in PCP animals only. An intake of 41 mg PCA/kg/day was associated with a decrease in the number of corpora lutea and in embryolethality. PCA exposure also resulted in reductions in foetal body weight and crown-rump lengths of males at 4 and 41 mg/kg/day. Female foetuses were unaffected.     

Pharmacokinetics of radiolabelled quinlukast in rats

Pharmacokinetics together with in vivo metabolism and elimination of quinlukast, a potential anti-asthmatic and anti-inflammatory drug, were designed in rats. For this purpose, bile duct cannulated rats and an in situ perfused rat liver preparation were employed. 3H-radiolabelled compound was administered i.v. or loaded to the perfusion medium, respectively. Quinlukast represented the main form of radioactivity determined in plasma; in comparison with the parent drug metabolites were present in lower levels in the systemic circulation. The pharmacokinetic parameters related to the whole animal were calculated from quinlukast rat plasma concentration-time course. The distribution of quinlukast in the body was relatively fast (distribution half-life was approx. 6 min), the elimination half-life exceeded 2h. Binding of quinlukast to rat plasma proteins was very high (approx. 99.7%) and this binding influenced distribution volumes of quinlukast. Both the volume of the central compartment and the volume at a steady state were approx. 115 and 430 ml, respectively. The experiments showed that the biliary clearance was the major route of elimination of this compound from the systemic circulation of rats. In agreement with the determined elimination half-life approx. 42% of the radioactivity was found in the bile, with <0.5% appearing in the urine. The majority of the eliminated radioactivity in the bile was in the form of polar metabolites; only a small part of the parent compound was determined. Two hours after intravenous administration, polar metabolites - but no parent drug - were detected in the urine.     

Disposition and metabolism of indeloxazine hydrochloride,a cerebral activator,in rats

1. The disposition and metabolism of indeloxazine hydrochloride ((±) -2-[(inden-7-yloxy)methyl]morpholine hydrochloride) were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

2. After oral administration of ¹⁴C-indeloxazine hydrochloride, the plasma concentration of total radioactivity reached a maximum at 15 min and declined with an apparent half-life of 2.2h in the first 6h period and declined more slowly thereafter. Unchanged drug in the plasma represented 13.5%, 5.9% and 0.4% of the total radioactivity at 15 min, 1 h and 6 h respectively after administration and levels decayed with a half-life of 0.9 h.

3. After oral and i.v. administration of the labelled compound, the urinary and faecal excretion of radioactivity in 72 h were 61–65% and 31–36% of the dose, respectively. Biliary excretion in bile duct-cannulated animals amounted to 49% of the dose in 72 h.

4. Seven metabolites have been isolated from the plasma or urine and characterized by i.r., n.m.r. and mass spectrometry. They were derived through dihydrodiol formation in the indene ring, hydroxylation of the indene ring and N-acetylation, oxidation and oxidative degradation of the morpholine ring. Some metabolites were excreted as their glucuronic acid or glucose conjugates. The major metabolite appcared to the trans-indandiol analogue of indeloxazine.

5. Possible metabolic pathways of degradation of the morpholine ring are discussed.     

Disposition and metabolism of indeloxazine hydrochloride, a cerebral activator, in rats

1. The disposition and metabolism of indeloxazine hydrochloride ((+/-)-2-[(inden-7-yloxy)methyl]morpholine hydrochloride) were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. 2. After oral administration of 14C-indeloxazine hydrochloride, the plasma concentration of total radioactivity reached a maximum at 15 min and declined with an apparent half-life of 2.2 h in the first 6 h period and declined more slowly thereafter. Unchanged drug in the plasma represented 13.5%, 5.9% and 0.4% of the total radioactivity at 15 min, 1 h and 6 h respectively after administration and levels decayed with a half-life of 0.9 h. 3. After oral and i.v. administration of the labelled compound, the urinary and faecal excretion of radioactivity in 72 h were 61-65% and 31-36% of the dose, respectively. Biliary excretion in bile duct-cannulated animals amounted to 49% of the dose in 72 h. 4. Seven metabolites have been isolated from the plasma or urine and characterized by i.r., n.m.r. and mass spectrometry. They were derived through dihydrodiol formation in the indene ring, hydroxylation of the indene ring and N-acetylation, oxidation and oxidative degradation of the morpholine ring. Some metabolites were excreted as their glucuronic acid or glucose conjugates. The major metabolite appeared to the trans-indandiol analogue of indeloxazine. 5. Possible metabolic pathways of degradation of the morpholine ring are discussed.     

Disposition and metabolism of a new benzothiophene antiestrogen in rats, dogs and monkeys

A new benzothiophene-derived antiestrogen (LY156758) when orally administered was well absorbed in rats and monkeys while approx. 20% was absorbed in dogs. In the rat the compound was subject to first-pass hepatic metabolism which led to low levels of parent drug in the systematic circulation together with a small amount as the glucuronide conjugate. In monkeys the compound occurred primarily as the glucuronide conjugate of parent drug with very little circulating free drug. The systemic bioavailability of free parent drug in plasma was 39% in rats, 17% in dogs and 5% in monkeys. Excretion of the drug in rats and dogs was primarily via the bile. Approx. 1% of the dose was excreted in the urine of rats and dogs after oral dosing. In rats, at least 50% of an oral dose was excreted in bile as the glucuronide conjugate of parent drug.