ELIMINATION OF DIFLUNISAL AS ITS ACYL GLUCURONIDE, PHENOLIC GLUCURONIDE AND SULFATE CONJUGATES IN BILE-EXTERIORIZED AND INTACT RATS

1. The disposition of diflunisal (DF) was investigated in both bile-exteriorized and intact rats given 10 and 100 mg/kg doses intravenously (i.v.). 2. In addition to the phenolic glucuronide (DPG) and acyl glucuronide (DAG) conjugates, the sulfate conjugate (DS) was found to be a major metabolite. The glucuronides were excreted preferentially in bile, whereas DS was excreted almost exclusively in urine. 3. In bile-exteriorized animals, recoveries of DPG, DAG and DS in bile were 12.2%, 23.8%, 0.4%, respectively, and in urine, 10.3%, 5.6% and 15.2%, respectively, at the 10 mg/kg dose; and in bile, 11.3%, 41.6% and 1.0% respectively, and urine 2.9%, 1.1% and 17.0%, respectively, at the 100 mg/kg dose. 4. Total plasma clearance of DF and formation clearance of DF to DPG were reduced at the higher dose, suggesting saturation of this glucuronidation pathway. Formation clearances of DF to DAG and DS were little affected by the dose change. 5. Considerable enterohepatic recirculation of DF was apparent from the prolongation of DF and its conjugates in plasma of rats with an intact bile flow into the gut. The net metabolic effect of such cycling was enhancement of overall DS formation, from 15.6% and 18.0% of the 10 and 100 mg/kg doses, respectively, in bile-exteriorized rats to 28.5% and 42.1% of the doses respectively, in the intact animals.