Observations on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of the dopamine (D2) agonist, quinelorane, in rats, mice, dogs, and monkeys.

Following the oral administration of [14C]quinelorane, a potent and highly specific dopamine (D2) agonist, to rats, mice, and monkeys, the compound was well absorbed, with 50% or more of the radioactivity appearing in the urine within 24 hr. Dogs were pretreated with 22 consecutive daily doses of quinelorane by the oral route (in order to induce tachyphylaxis to the emetic effect) before receiving an iv dose of [14C]quinelorane; just over 80% of the radioactivity was excreted into the urine. A tissue-distribution study in rats receiving a single oral dose of 0.1 mg/kg [14C]quinelorane indicated a widespread distribution of radioactivity, with levels being notably low in the blood and plasma and high in the salivary gland, adrenals, pancreas, and spleen; levels were highest in the stomach and kidneys. The Tmax of radiocarbon in the 22 tissues varied between 0.5 and 6 hr, with some tissues showing a plateau of radioactivity between these time-points. After 8 hr, levels of radioactivity were clearly decreasing, and by 48 hr, background levels were attained. Following the oral and iv administration of quinelorane to rats, the systemic bioavailability was calculated to be 16% and the volume of distribution was found to approximate that of total extracellular water, i.e. approximately 300 ml/kg. Since absorption was satisfactory and the tissue distribution study indicated widespread radioactivity, the low bioavailability may be due to first-pass metabolism. Rats excreted marginally more of the N-despropyl metabolite than unchanged drug into the urine, and dogs excreted principally unchanged quinelorane into their urine, followed by the N-despropyl metabolite.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)