Dose-independent pharmacokinetics of a new neuroprotective agent for ischemia-reperfusion damage,KR-31543, after intravenous and oral administration to rats: hepatic and intestinal first-pass effects

The purpose of this study was to report dose-independent pharmacokinetics of KR-31543, a new neuroprotective agent for ischemia-reperfusion damage, after intravenous (iv) and oral (po) administration and first-pass effects after iv, intraportal, intragastric, and intraduodenal administration in rats. After iv (10, 20, and 50 mg/kg) and oral (10, 20, and 50 mg/kg) administration, the pharmacokinetic parameters of KR-31543 were dose independent. The extent of absolute oral bioavailability (F) was 27.4% at 20 mg/kg. Considering the amount of unabsorbed KR-31543 from the gastrointestinal tract at 24 h (4.11%), the low F value could be due to the hepatic, gastric, and/or intestinal first-pass effects. After iv administration of three doses, the total body clearances were considerably slower than the reported cardiac output in rats, suggesting almost negligible first-pass effect in the heart and lung in rats. The areas under the plasma concentration-time curves from time zero to time infinity (AUCs) were not significantly different between intragastric and intraduodenal administration of KR-31543 (20 mg/kg), suggesting that the gastric first-pass effect of KR-31543 was almost negligible in rats. However, the values were significantly smaller (305 and 318 microg x min/mL) than that after intraportal administration (494 microg x min/mL), indicating a considerable intestinal first-pass effect of KR-31543 in rats; that is, approximately 40% of the oral dose. Approximately 50% of KR-31543 absorbed into the portal vein was eliminated by the liver (hepatic first-pass effect) based on iv and intraportal administration (the value, 50%, was equivalent to approximately 30% of the oral dose). The low F value of KR-31543 after oral administration of 20 mg/kg to rats was mainly due to considerable intestinal (approximately 40%) and hepatic (approximately 30%) first-pass effects.     

Pharmacokinetics of DA-6034, an agent for inflammatory bowel disease, in rats and dogs: Contribution of intestinal first-pass effect to low bioavailability in rats.

The pharmacokinetics of DA-6034 in rats and dogs and first-pass effect in rats were examined. After intravenous administration, the dose-normalized AUC(0-infinity) values at 25 and 50mg/kg were significantly smaller than that at 10mg/kg. This could be due to significantly slower Cl(r) values than that at 10mg/kg, possibly due to saturated renal secretion at doses of 25 and 50mg/kg. After oral administration, the dose-normalized AUC(0-12h) values at 50 and 100mg/kg were significantly smaller than that at 25mg/kg, possibly due to poor water solubility of the drug. The low F-value (approximately 0.136%) of DA-6034 at a dose of 50mg/kg in rats could be due to considerable intestinal first-pass effect (approximately 69% of oral dose) and unabsorbed fraction from the gastrointestinal tract (approximately 30.5%). The effect of cola beverage, cimetidine, or omeprazole on the AUC(0-24h) of DA-6034 was almost negligible in rats. Pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-6034 after intravenous and oral administration at various doses were dose-independent in dogs. DA-6034 was not accumulated in rats and dogs after consecutive 7 and 28 days oral administration, respectively. The stability, blood partition, and protein binding of DA-6034 were also discussed.     

Pharmacokinetics of sildenafil after intravenous and oral administration in rats: hepatic and intestinal first-pass effects

Pharmacokinetics of sildenafil after intravenous and oral administration at various doses and first-pass effect at 30 mg/kg were evaluated in rats. After intravenous administration (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg), the dose-normalized AUC values were proportional to intravenous doses studied. However, after oral administration (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg), the dose-normalized AUC values increased significantly with increasing doses, possibly due to saturation of metabolism of sildenafil in rat intestinal tract. After oral administration (30 mg/kg), approximately 0.626% was not absorbed and F was 14.6%. The AUC after intragastric administration was significantly smaller (71.4% decrease) than that after intraportal administration, however, the values were not significantly different between intragastric and intraduodenal administration. The above data suggested that intestinal first-pass effect of sildenafil was approximately 71% of oral dose in rats. The AUC values after intraportal administration were significantly smaller (49% decrease) than that after intravenous administration. This suggested that hepatic first-pass effect of sildenafil after absorption into the portal vein was approximately 49% of oral dose in rats (approximately 49% was equivalent to approximately 13.7% of oral dose). The low F of sildenafil at a dose of 30 mg/kg in rats could be mainly due to considerable intestinal first-pass effect.     

Pharmacokinetics of DA-8159, a new erectogenic, administered at 10:00 h versus 22:00 h in rats

Little is known about chronopharmacokinetics of PDE V inhibitors in rats as well as in humans. Hence, the pharmacokinetics of DA-8159 and one of its metabolites, DA-8164, were investigated after intravenous and oral administration of DA-8159 at a dose of 30 mg/kg administered at 10:00 h versus 22:00 h in rats. After intravenous administration of DA-8159 at 22:00 h, the AUC of DA-8159 was significantly greater (528 versus 368 microg min/ml) due to significantly slower CL (56.1 versus 79.5 ml/min/kg) in the rats. After intravenous administration of DA-8159 at 22:00 h, the AUC of DA-8164 was also significantly greater (108 versus 66.8 microg min/ml) possibly due to significantly greater exposure of the parent drug (AUC of DA-8159). After intravenous administration of DA-8164 at 22:00 h, the CL of DA-8164 was significantly slower; hence, this factor could also contribute to the greater AUC of DA-8164 after intravenous administration of DA-8159. However, after oral administration of DA-8159, the AUC values of both DA-8159 and DA-8164 were not significantly different between 10:00 h and 22:00 h. This was not due to decrease in gastrointestinal absorption of DA-8159 at 22:00 h and may be due to changes in intestinal first-pass effect at 22:00 h. The above data suggested that modification of dosage regimen of oral DA-8159 is not necessary in humans between 10:00 h and 22:00 h. Further studies are needed in humans.     

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral DA-8159, a new erectogenic, in rats with protein-calorie malnutrition

Influence of dietary protein deficiency on the pharmacokinetics of DA-8159 and one of its metabolites, DA-8164, was investigated after intravenous and oral administration of DA-8159 at a dose of 30 mg kg(-1) to male Sprague-Dawley rats allowed free access to a 23% (control) or 5% (protein-calorie malnutrition, PCM) casein diet for 4 weeks. The total area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity (AUC) values of DA-8164 were significantly smaller after both intravenous (87.0 vs 162 microg min mL(-1)) and oral (144 vs 319 microg min mL(-1)) administration of DA-8159 to PCM rats. This could be due to the decrease in CYP3A1/2 (50-60%) in the rats because DA-8164 was mainly formed via CYP3A1/2 in rats. This could be supported by significantly slower in-vitro CL(int) (2.04+/-0.646 vs 3.15+/-0.693 microL min(-1) (mg protein)(-1)) for the formation of DA-8164 in hepatic microsomal fraction of PCM rats. After intravenous administration of DA-8159, the AUC values of DA-8159 were not significantly different between the two groups of rats although the AUC of DA-8164 was significantly smaller in PCM rats, and this may be due to the minor metabolic pathway of DA-8164 in rats. However, after oral administration of DA-8159, the AUC of DA-8159 was significantly greater in PCM rats (194 vs 122 microg min mL(-1)). This was not due to enhanced absorption of DA-8159 from the gastrointestinal tract in the rats but may be due to a decreased intestinal first-pass effect of DA-8159 in the rats.     

Dose-independent pharmacokinetics of ondansetron in rats: contribution of hepatic and intestinal first-pass effects to low bioavailability

The pharmacokinetic parameters of ondansetron were evaluated after its intravenous (at doses of 1, 4, 8 and 20 mg/kg) and oral (4, 8 and 20 mg/kg) administration to rats. The gastric, intestinal and hepatic first-pass effects of ondansetron were also evaluated after its intravenous, oral, intraportal, intragastric and intraduodenal administration at a dose of 8 mg/kg to rats. After intravenous and oral administration of ondansetron, the drug exhibits dose-independent pharmacokinetics in rats. After oral administration of ondansetron at a dose of 8 mg/kg, the unabsorbed fraction was 0.0158 of the dose, the extent of absolute oral bioavailability (F) value was 0.0407, and the hepatic and intestinal first-pass effects were 40.0% and 34.2% of the oral dose, respectively. The low F of ondansetron in rats was mainly due to considerable hepatic and intestinal first-pass effects. The lower F of ondansetron in rats (4.07%) than that in humans (62+/-15%) was mainly due to greater hepatic metabolism of the drug in rats. Ondansetron was stable in the rat gastric juices and various buffer solutions having pHs ranging from 1 to 13. The equilibrium plasma-to-blood cells partition ratio of ondansetron was 1.74-5.31. Protein binding of ondansetron to fresh rat plasma was 53.2%.     

Pharmacokinetics and first-pass elimination of metoprolol in rats: contribution of intestinal first-pass extraction to low bioavailability of metoprolol

1. The pharmacokinetics of metoprolol after intravenous (IV) (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg) and oral (1, 2, and 5 mg/kg) administration, and the intestinal and hepatic first-pass extraction of metoprolol after IV, intraportal, and intraduodenal (1 and 2 mg/kg) administration were comprehensively assessed in rats. 2. Metoprolol exhibited dose-independent pharmacokinetics after IV administration, and dose-dependent pharmacokinetics after oral administration probably due to the saturable first-pass extraction of metoprolol. At doses where metoprolol exhibited dose-independent pharmacokinetics (1 and 2 mg/kg), complete absorption (>99.2%) and low F (<0.245) after oral administration were observed. The intestinal and hepatic first-pass extraction ratio (E(G) and E(H), respectively) of metoprolol were approximately 0.45 and 0.60, respectively (equivalent to approximately 45% and 30% of orally administered dose, respectively), suggesting considerable contribution of intestinal first-pass extraction to the low F of metoprolol in rats. 3. The E(G) in rats was predicted from in vitro clearance and/or permeability data utilizing the Q(Gut) model and well-stirred model (0.347 and 0.626, respectively). The predicted E(G) values were in good agreement with the observed in vivo E(G) (0.492-0.443), suggesting the utility of the prediction of in vivo intestinal first-pass extraction from the in vitro clearance using intestinal microsomes.     

Effects of omeprazole or cola beverage on the pharmacokinetics of oral DA-8159, a new erectogenic, in rats

The changes in pharmacokinetics of DA-8159 by omeprazole with respect to inhibition of CYP3A1/2 in rats were evaluated. After oral administration of DA-8159 at dose of 30 mg/kg to rats pretreated with oral omeprazole at 30 mg/kg for 1 week, the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity (AUC) of DA-8159 was significantly greater (37.5% increase) than that in control rats. This could be due to inhibition of metabolism of DA-8159 by inhibition of CYP3A1/2 by omeprazole. The AUC(DA-8164 (a metabolite of DA-8159))/AUC(DA-8159) ratio was also smaller (32.4% decrease) with omeprazole. After oral administration of DA-8159 at a dose of 30 mg/kg to rats without or with cola beverage, the pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-8159 and DA-8164 were not significantly different between two groups of rats. This suggested that cola beverage did not have any considerable effects on CYP3A1/2 in rats.     

Pharmacokinetic changes of DA-8159, a new erectogenic, after intravenous and oral administration to rats with diabetes mellitus induced by streptozotocin

Intravenous administration of DA-8159, 30 mg/kg, to rats with diabetes mellitus induced by streptozotocin (DMIS), AUC of DA-8164 (a metabolite) was significantly smaller in rats with DMIS (57.9 compared with 81.8 microg x min/mL). This may be due to more contribution of significantly faster clearance of DA-8164 than that of significantly greater formation of DA-8164 in the rats. For example, the CL of DA-8164 was significantly faster (9.68 compared with 6.29 mL/min/kg) after intravenous administration of DA-8164, 10 mg/kg, to rats with DMIS and in vitro intrinsic clearance for the formation of DA-8164 was significantly faster (1.92 compared with 1.59 microL/min/mg protein) in hepatic microsomal fraction of rats with DMIS due to significant increase in expression of CYP3A1(23) in the rats. DA-8164 was formed mainly via CYP3A1/2 in rats. After intravenous administration of DA-8159, renal clearance was significantly faster in rats with DMIS (5.79 compared with 2.80 mL/min/kg) due to urine flow-dependent renal clearance of DA-8159 in rats. After oral administration of DA-8159, the AUC values of both DA-8159 and DA-8164 were not significantly different between two groups of rats. Although the exact reason is not known it may be due to changes in first-pass effect of DA-8159 in rats with DMIS.     

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of a new reversible proton pump inhibitor, DBM-819, after intravenous and oral administration to rats: hepatic first-pass effect.

The dose-dependent pharmacokinetic parameters of DBM-819 were evaluated after intravenous (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) and oral (10, 20 and 50 mg/kg) administrations of the drug to rats. The hepatic first-pass effect was also measured after intravenous and intraportal administrations of the drug, 10 mg/kg, to rats. After intravenous administration, the dose-normalized (based on 5 mg/kg) area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity, AUC, at 20 mg/kg (27.0 and 45.8 microg min/ml) was significantly greater than that at 5 mg/kg due to saturable metabolism. After oral administration, the dose-normalized (based on 10 mg/kg) AUC(0-12 h) at 50 mg/kg (25.1, 18.3 and 49.2 microg min/ml) was significantly greater than those at 10 and 20 mg/kg again due to saturable metabolism. After oral administration of DBM-819, 10 mg/kg, 2.86% of oral dose was not absorbed and the extent of absolute oral bioavailability (F) was estimated to be 46.7%. After intraportal administration of DBM-819, 10 mg/kg, the AUC was 51.9% of intravenous administration, suggesting that approximately 48.1% was eliminated by liver (hepatic first-pass effect). The considerable hepatic first-pass effect of DBM-819 was also supported by significantly greater AUC of M3 (3.70 and 6.86 microg min/ml), a metabolite of DBM-819, after intraportal administration. The AUCs of DBM-819 were not significantly different (comparable) between intraportal and oral administrations of the drug, 10 mg/kg, suggesting that gastrointestinal first-pass effect of DBM-819 was almost negligible in rats. At 10 mg/kg oral dose of DBM-819, the hepatic first-pass effect was approximately 48.1%, F was approximately 46.7 and 2.86% was not absorbed from gastrointestinal tract in rats.     

Dose-independent pharmacokinetics of a new reversible proton pump inhibitor,KR-60436, after intravenous and oral administration to rats: gastrointestinal first-pass effect

Dose-independent pharmacokinetic parameters of KR-60436, a new proton pump inhibitor, were evaluated after intravenous (i.v.; 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) and oral (20, 50, and 100 mg/kg) administration to rats. The hepatic, gastric, and intestinal first-pass effects were also measured after iv, intraportal (i.p.), intragastric (i.g.), and intraduodenal (id) administrations to rats of a dose of 20 mg/kg. The areas under the plasma concentration-time curve from time to zero to time infinity (AUCs) were independent of iv and oral dose ranges studied; the dose-normalized AUCs were 83.0-104 microg. min/mL (based on 5 mg/kg) and 78.4-96.8 microg. min/mL (based on 20 mg/kg) for iv and oral administration, respectively. After an oral administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg, approximately 3% of the oral dose was not absorbed, and the extent of absolute oral bioavaliability (F) was estimated to be 18.8%. The AUCs of KR-60436 after i.g. and i.d. administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg were significantly smaller (82.4 and 57.5% decrease, respectively) than that after an i.p. administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg, suggesting that gastrointestinal first-pass effect of KR-60436 was approximately 80% of oral dose in rats (the gastric first-pass effect was approximately 25%). After an i.p. administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg, the AUC was 77.6% of an iv administration, suggesting that hepatic first-pass effect was approximately 22% of KR-60436 absorbed into the portal vein. Note that the value of 22% was equivalent to approximately 4% of the oral dose. Because only 17% of oral dose was absorbed into the portal vein, the low F of KR-60436 in rats was mainly due to considerable gastrointestinal first-pass effect, which was approximately 80% (the gastric first-pass effect was approximately 25%) of oral dose.     

Subacute toxicities and toxicokinetics of a new erectogenic, DA-8159, after single and 4-week repeated oral administration in dogs.

The subacute toxicities and toxicokinetics of a new erectogenic, DA-8159, were evaluated after single (at the 1st day) and 4-week (at the 28th day) oral administration of the drug, in doses of 0 (to serve as a control), 12.5, 50 and 200 mg/kg/day, to male and female dogs (n=3 for male and female dogs for each dose). DA-8159 had an effect on the immune-related organs (or tissues), circulatory systems, liver, adrenal glands, ovaries and pancreas. The toxic dose was 200 mg/kg and no observed adverse effect level was less than 50 mg/kg for male and female dogs. There were no significant gender differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-8159 for each dose after both single and 4-week oral administration. The pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-8159 were dose-independent after single oral administration; the time to reach a peak plasma concentration (T(max)) and the dose-normalized area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 24 h in plasma (AUC(0-24 h)) were not significantly different among three doses. However, accumulation of DA-8159 after 4-week oral administration was considerable at toxic dose, 200 mg/kg/day. For example, after 4-week administration, the dose-normalized AUC(0-24 h) value at 200 mg/kg/day (4.71 and 15.3 microg h/ml) was significantly greater than that at 12.5 mg/kg/day. After 4-week oral administration, the dose-normalized C(max) and AUC(0-24 h) at 200 mg/kg/day were significantly higher and greater, respectively, than those after a single oral administration.     

Dose-independent pharmacokinetics of a candidate for diabetic neuropathy,SR-4668, after intravenous and oral administration to rats: Intestinal first-pass effect

Dose-independent pharmacokinetic parameters of SR-4668 were observed after intravenous (i.v.) administrations at doses of 25, 50, and 75 mg/kg and oral administrations at doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg to rats. The hepatic, gastric, and intestinal first-pass effects of SR-4668 were also measured after i.v., intraportal (i.p.), intraduodenal (i.d.), and intragastric (i.g.) administrations at a dose of 50 mg/kg to rats. Although a considerable amount of orally administered SR-4668 was absorbed, the F was low--only 33%. This indicates considerable first-pass (gastric, intestinal, and/or hepatic) effects of SR-4668 in rats. After i.v. administrations, the total body clearances of SR-4668 were considerably slower than the reported cardiac output in rats, suggesting that the first-pass effects of SR-4668 in the lung and heart could be negligible, if any, in rats. The AUCs of SR-4668 were comparable between i.v. and i.p. administrations, suggesting that the hepatic first-pass effect of SR-4668 was not considerable in rats. The AUCs were also comparable between i.d. and i.g. administrations, suggesting that gastric first-pass effect was almost negligible in rats. However, the AUC after an i.d. administration was significantly smaller (approximately 55% decrease) than that after an i.p. administration, suggesting that the intestinal first-pass effect was approximately 55% of oral dose. The rests of the orally administered dose could be mainly due to degradation of SR-4668 in gastric juices; 77.3-95.6% of the spiked amount of SR-4668 were recovered after 4-h incubation in five human gastric juices. The above data suggested that the low F of SR-4668 could be mainly due to considerable intestinal first-pass effect in rats.     

Pharmacokinetic interaction between 5-[2-propyloxy-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrollidinylethylamidosulfonyl)phenyl]-1-methyl-3-propyl-1,6-dihydro-7H-pyrazolo (4,3-d) pyrimidine-7-one (DA-8159) and nitroglycerin in rats

The pharmacokinetic interaction between 5-[2-propyloxy-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrollidinylethylamidosulfonyl)phenyl]-1-methyl-3-propyl-1,6-dihydro-7H-pyrazolo (4,3-d)pyrimidine-7-one (DA-8159), a new erectogenic, and nitroglycerin has been evaluated in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received DA-8159 (30 mg kg(-1)) as a single intravenous or oral dose with the simultaneous single intravenous administration of nitroglycerin (2.5 mg kg(-1)). After simultaneous intravenous administration, the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity (AUC(inf)) of DA-8159 (746 vs 457 microg min mL(-1)) was found to be significantly greater than with DA-8159 alone. Also, after simultaneous intravenous administration total body clearance (CL) (40.2 vs 65.6 mL min(-1) kg(-1)), renal clearance (CL(R)) (1.65 vs 5.11 mL min(-1) kg(-1)), and nonrenal clearance (CL(NR)) (38.3 vs 60.2 mL min(-1) kg(-1)) of DA-8159 were significantly slower compared with DA-8159 alone. The slower CL(NR) of DA-8159 could have been due to the inhibition of the metabolism of DA-8159 by nitroglycerin, since DA-8159 is metabolized via CYP3A1/2 in rats and nitroglycerin inhibits CYP3A1/2 in rats. The slower CL(R) of DA-8159 could have been due to the urine flow rate-dependent CL(R) of DA-8159 in rats. After the simultaneous intravenous administration of nitroglycerin and DA-8159, the AUC(inf) of nitroglycerin was significantly smaller (635 vs 960 microg min mL(-1)), which could have been due to the cardiac output-dependent CL of nitroglycerin. However, after the oral administration of DA-8159, the pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-8159 with and without the intravenous administration of nitroglycerin became comparable. This was not due to the decrease in nitroglycerin's gastrointestinal absorption of DA-8159, but could have been due to changes in nitroglycerin's intestinal firstpass effect of DA-8159. Human studies are required to determine the administration time of DA-8159 when nitroglycerin is concomitantly taken.     

Pharmacokinetic changes of DA-8159, a new erectogenic, and one of its metabolites, DA-8164 after intravenous and oral administration of DA-8159 to spontaneously hypertensive rats and DOCA-salt-induced hypertensive rats

The pharmacokinetics of DA-8159 and one of its metabolites, DA-8164, were compared after intravenous and oral administration of DA-8159 at a dose of 30 mg/kg to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) at 16 and 6 weeks old and their respective age-matched control normotensive Kyoto-Wistar rats (KW rats), and deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertensive rats (DOCA-salt rats) at 16 weeks old and their age-matched control Sprague-Dawley rats. After oral administration of DA-8159 to 16-week-old SHRs, the AUC values of both DA-8159 (157 versus 103 microg min/ml) and DA-8164 (215 versus 141 microg min/ml) were significantly greater, but the values of DA-8159 were reversed in 16-week-old DOCA-salt rats (125 versus 200 microg min/ml). However, the AUC values of both DA-8159 and DA-8164 were not significantly different between the 6-week-old SHRs and their control rats. The above AUC differences in 16-week-old SHRs may be due to neither hereditary characteristics of SHRs nor the hypertensive state itself.     

Species differences in the formation of DA-8164 after intravenous and/or oral administration of DA-8159, a new erectogenic, to mice, rats, rabbits, dogs and humans

Species differences in the formation of DA-8164 after intravenous and/or oral administration of DA-8159 to mice, rats, rabbits, dogs and humans were investigated. After intravenous administration of DA-8159, the formation of DA-8164 decreased in the order mice, rats, rabbits and dogs; the AUC(DA-8164)/AUC(DA-8159) ratios were 0.479, 0.199, 0.0452 and close to 0 (DA-8164 was below the detection limit in dog plasma), respectively. After oral administration of DA-8159, the formation of DA-8164 was considerable in mice, rats and humans, but almost negligible in dogs; the AUC (or AUC(0-t))(DA-8164)/AUC (or AUC(0-t))(DA-8159) ratios were 2.99, 2.67, 1.39 and 0.0650, respectively. The above data suggested that the formation of DA-8164 was almost negligible after both intravenous and oral administration in dogs. The species differences for the formation of DA-8164 may be due to the involvement of different CYP isozymes for each species and/or a different amount or activity of CYP isozyme if the same CYP isozyme is involved for the formation of DA-8164 for all species. The AUC (or AUC(0-t))(DA-8164)/AUC (or AUC(0-t))(DA-8159) ratios after oral administration were greater than those after intravenous administration in mice, rats and dogs, and this could be due to considerable first-pass (gastric, intestinal and/or hepatic) effects in the species as proved in rats.     

Hepatic and intestinal first-pass effects of oltipraz in rats

It was reported that the mean value of the extent of absolute oral bioavailability (F) of oltipraz at a dose of 20 mg/kg was 41.2% and only 2.68% of the oral dose was unabsorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in rats. Hence, the low F in rats could be due to considerable first-pass (gastric, intestinal and hepatic) effects. Hence, the first-pass effects of oltipraz were measured after intravenous, intraportal, intragastric and intraduodenal administration of the drug at a dose of 20 mg/kg to rats. The total area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity (AUC) values between intragastric and intraduodenal administration (213 and 212 microg min/ml) in rats were almost similar, but the values were significantly smaller than that after intraportal administration (316 microg min/ml) in rats, indicating that gastric first-pass effect was almost negligible (due to negligible absorption of oltipraz from rat stomach), but the intestinal first-pass effect of oltipraz was considerable, approximately 32% of the oral dose. The hepatic first-pass effect of oltipraz was approximately 40% based on AUC values between intravenous and intraportal administration (319 versus 536 microg min/ml). Since approximately 65% of the oral oltipraz was absorbed into the portal vein, the value of 40% was equivalent to 25% of the oral dose. The low F of oltipraz in rats was mainly due to considerable hepatic and intestinal first-pass effects.     

Pharmacokinetics of amitriptyline and one of its metabolites, nortriptyline, in rats: little contribution of considerable hepatic first-pass effect to low bioavailability of amitriptyline due to great intestinal first-pass effect

Pharmacokinetics of amitriptyline and nortriptyline were evaluated after intravenous (2.5-10 mg/kg) and oral (10-100 mg/kg) administration of amitriptyline to rats. The hepatic, gastric, and intestinal first-pass effects of amitriptyline were also measured at a dose of 10 mg/kg. The areas under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUCs) of amitriptyline were dose-proportional following both intravenous and oral administration. After oral administration of amitriptyline, approximately 1.50% of the dose was not absorbed, the extent of absolute oral bioavalability (F) was approximately 6.30%, and the hepatic and intestinal first-pass effects of amitriptyline were approximately 9% and 87% of the oral dose, respectively. Although the hepatic first-pass effect was 78.9% after absorption into the portal vein, the value was only 9% of the oral dose due to considerable intestinal first-pass effect in rats. The low F of amitriptyline in rats was primarily attributable to considerable intestinal first-pass effect. This study proves the little contribution of considerable hepatic first-pass effect to low F of amitriptyline due to great intestinal first-pass effect in rats. The lower F value of amitriptyline in rats than that in humans (46 +/- 48%) was due to grater metabolism of amitriptyline in rats' liver and/or small intestine.     

Pharmacokinetic changes of DA-8159, a new erectogenic, after intravenous and oral administration to rats with acute renal failure induced by uranyl nitrate

The pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-8159, a new erectogenic, were compared after intravenous and oral administration of the drug at a dose of 30 mg/kg to control rats and rats with acute renal failure induced by uranyl nitrate (U-ARF). After intravenous administration to rats with U-ARF, the plasma concentrations of DA-8159 were higher than those in control rats. This resulted in a significantly greater area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity (AUC) of DA-8159 in rats with U-ARF (304 compared with 365 microg min/ml for control rats and rats with U-ARF). The significantly greater AUC in rats with U-ARF was due to significantly slower total body clearance (Cl) of DA-8159 (98.6 compared with 82.2 ml/min/kg). The significantly slower Cl in rats with U-ARF was due to slower renal clearance (1.07 ml/min/kg compared with not calculable, due to impaired kidney function) and nonrenal clearance (97.5 compared with 82.2 ml/min/kg due to slower metabolism) than those in control rats. After oral administration of DA-8159 to rats with U-ARF, the AUC (122 compared with 172 microg min/ml) was significantly greater and Cl(R) was slower (3.47 ml/min/kg compared with not calculable) than those in control rats. The significantly greater AUC in rats with U-ARF could be due to slower Cl of DA-8159 in the rats.     

Negligible pharmacokinetic interaction between oral DA-8159, a new erectogenic, and amlodipine in rats

A pharmacokinetic interaction between oral DA-8159 and amlodipine was evaluated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. In rats pretreated with troleandomycin (a main inhibitor of CYP3A1/2 in rats), the AUC(0-6 h) of amlodipine was significantly greater than the controls (34.5+/-6.01 compared with 28.0+/-4.70 microg min/ml), indicating that amlodipine is metabolized via CYP3A1/2 in rats. It was reported that the metabolism of DA-8159 and the formation of DA-8164 (a metabolite of DA-8159) were mainly mediated via CYP3A1/2 in rats, and amlodipine significantly inhibited the CYP3A2 in rats. Therefore, a pharmacokinetic interaction between the two drugs could be expected. However, after oral administration of DA-8159 at a dose of 30 mg/kg with or without oral amlodipine at a dose of 5 mg/kg to rats, the pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-8159 and DA-8164 were not significantly different between the two groups of rats. Similar results were also obtained from amlodipine between with and without DA-8159. The above data indicated that the pharmacokinetic interaction between oral DA-8159 and amlodipine was almost negligible in rats.