The Rate and Extent of Oral Bioavailability versus the Rate and Extent of Oral Absorption: Clarification and Recommendation of Terminology

In the literature, the meanings of the terms oral absorption and oral bioavailability of drugs vary greatly. Absorption has been considered to take place at the mucosal membrane of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It has also been defined as the process from the site of drug administration to the site of measurement. In the latter definition, the extent of oral absorption depends on the extent of first-pass elimination in the gut wall and liver even though a drug may be completely absorbed from the GI tract. Moreover, these two terms have also been used interchangeably. Inconsistency in the definition of these two terms has led to varying interpretations of these terms among students, researchers and laymen, and such an inconsistency seems undesirable. Apparently because of these inconsistencies, improper correlations between the Caco-2 permeability or intestinal permeability and the oral bioavailability of drugs subject to extensive first-pass effect may have occurred. It is suggested that absorption be defined as movement of drug across the outer mucosal membranes of the GI tract, while bioavailability be defined as availability of drug to the general circulation or site of pharmacological actions. Since transit times (this may range from about 1 min to several hours) across enterocytes, liver, lungs, and the peripheral venous sampling tissue are virtually unknown for all drugs, this factor alone would favor the use of oral bioavailability rate rather than oral absorption rate in all routine studies.     

Intestinal Absorption of Peptides and Peptide Analogues: Implications of Fasting Pancreatic Serine Protease Levels and pH on the Extent of Oral Absorption in Dogs and Humans

In order to describe and predict the impact of intestinal metabolism on peptide absorption, intestinal chymotrypsin activity, flow rate, and pH were characterized in fasted, duodenally fistulated dogs as a function of gastrointestinal (GI) motility phase. GI motility was classified as either active or quiescent. Cumulative volume, F(t), and volumetric flow rate, Q(t), curves were constructed and the data were sorted according to motility phase. The mean ± SE active phase pH was 6.4 ± 0.3, whereas the quiescent phase pH was 7.3 ± 0.3. The difference between the mean active and the mean quiescent phase pH values was significant. The active and quiescent phase flow rates (ml/min) were also significantly different, at values of 1.2 ± 0.2 and 0.28 ± 0.07, respectively. The active phase flow rates were consistent among the dogs studied; however, the quiescent phase flow rates were highly variable among the dogs. The variability of the quiescent phase flow rates was expected since phase II of the GI motility cycle is characterized by intermediate, irregular spike activity. The mean active and quiescent phase chymotrypsin activities were 1.87 × 10^-5 ± 0.53 × 10^-5 and 1.56 × 10^-5 ± 0.65 × 10^-5 M, respectively. The active phase values were not statistically different among dogs, however, the quiescent phase values were found to be highly variable among dogs. The difference between the active and the quiescent phase chymotrypsin mean levels, however, was not statistically significant. The chymotrypsin levels determined in dogs were found to be approximately 10 times greater than those reported in humans. The significance of fasted-state chymotrypsin levels is discussed with respect to the impact of GI metabolism on peptide and peptide-like drug absorption in dogs. Further, given the intestinal metabolic differences between dogs and humans, the suitability of using the dog model for predicting the oral absorption of peptides in humans is discussed.     

Hydralazine Pharmacokinetics and Interaction with Food: An Evaluation of the Dog as an Animal Model

The intravenous and oral dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of hydralazine and the effect of concurrent administration of food with hydralazine in dogs were evaluated for comparison with published human data. Four dogs were given intravenous and oral doses of hydralazine at 0.25, 1.0, 2.5, and 4.0 mg/kg. In addition, the oral 2.5 mg/kg dose was given with a meal. Blood samples were collected at appropriate intervals and analyzed for hydralazine. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that AUC_oral/ dose (5552 to 13218 mg-min/ml) and F (0.36 to 0.77) increased significantly with dose, indicating saturation of first-pass metabolism, as is seen in humans. Total-body clearance (70 ml/min/kg) and steady-state volume of distribution (9 L/kg) were similar to human values. The bioavailability of hydralazine in the dog was decreased by 63% when the dose was given with a meal, which is comparable to some human data. It was concluded that the dog may be a useful model in which to study mechanisms of the hydralazine-food interaction.     

Methanol Inhalation: Site and Other Factors Influencing Absorption,and an Inhalation Toxicokinetic Model for the Rat

Purpose. This investigation was conducted to identify the site and characteristics of methanol absorption and to develop an inhalation model relating methanol absorption, blood concentration, and elimination. Methods. Rats were exposed to methanol in chambers that allowed measurement of methanol uptake, ventilation, and blood concentrations; anesthetized rats with a tracheal cannula were examined to determine tracheal concentrations. In separate experiments, methanol-exposed rats received an iv methanol bolus to examine the effect of blood methanol on ventilation and absorption; ventilation also was manipulated by CO₂ or pentobarbital to assess the effect of ventilation rate on methanol absorption. These data were combined to construct a semi-physiologic model of methanol uptake. Results. Only 1–3% of inhaled methanol reached the trachea, primarily from systemic methanol partitioning into the trachea; blood methanol did not alter methanol absorption. Manipulation of ventilation and application of the pharmacokinetic model indicated that ventilation was less significant than environmental methanol concentration in determining the fraction of inhaled methanol absorbed, although both parameters were important determinants of the total mass absorbed. Conclusions. These data indicate that methanol uptake is a complex process that depends upon several parameters. Despite these complexities, a relatively simple semi-physiologic model was capable of describing methanol uptake over a wide range of exposure concentrations in the rat.     

Use of a Dynamic in Vitro Lipolysis Model to Rationalize Oral Formulation Development for Poor Water Soluble Drugs: Correlation with in Vivo Data and the Relationship to Intra-Enterocyte Processes in Rats

Purpose To examine the correlation between the in vitro solubilization process of lipophilic compounds from different lipid solutions and the corresponding in vivo oral bioavailability data. In particular, to assess the influence of intra-enterocyte processes (metabolism and lymphatic absorption) on this correlation.Materials and Methods The dissolution of progesterone and vitamin D₃ in long (LCT), medium (MCT) and short (SCT) chain triglyceride solutions were tested in a dynamic in vitro lipolysis model. The absolute oral bioavailability of the drugs from the tested formulations was investigated in rats. Vitamin D₃ bioavailability was also examined following lymphatic transport blockage induced by cycloheximide (3 mg/kg).Results The dynamic in vitro lipolysis experiments indicated a rank order of MCT > LCT > SCT for both progesterone and vitamin D₃. The bioavailability of progesterone correlated with the in vitro data, despite its significant pre-systemic metabolism. For vitamin D₃, an in vivo performance rank order of LCT > MCT > SCT was obtained. However, when the lymphatic transport was blocked the bioavailability of vitamin D₃ correlated with in vitro data.Conclusions The in vitro lipolysis model is useful for optimization of oral lipid formulations even in the case of pre-systemic metabolism in the gut. However, when lymphatic transport is a significant route of absorption, the in vitro lipolysis data may not be predictive for actual in vivo absorption.