In vitro studies on the metabolism of antipyrine in the pig and rat: with special reference to veterinary medicine licensing

Preparation of product licence applications for veterinary medicines requires metabolic studies in the target species. This experimental procedure uses animals and is costly. In the present report of preliminary studies it is demonstrated that pig liver homogenates prepared from abattoir material and homogenates of rat liver show the interspecies metabolic differences that would be expected in vivo. The results therefore support the use of abattoir-derived liver homogenates in preliminary studies to investigate target species metabolism in veterinary drug development.

Depletion of protein-bound furazolidone metabolites containing the 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone side-chain from liver, kidney and muscle tissues from pigs

Ten 3-month-old pigs were treated with feed containing 300 mg furazolidone per kg for a period of 7 days, followed by withdrawal periods of 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks (two per group). The treatment resulted in the formation of protein-bound metabolites containing an intact 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ) side-chain that could be chemically released and then detected in liver, kidney and rump muscle tissues even 4 weeks after dosing. In tissues from animals killed at the end of the medication period, 993, 600 and 124 ng of AOZ were released from 1 g of liver, kidney and muscle respectively. In the tissues of the animals killed after a further 4 weeks the corresponding levels were 41, 7 and 10 ng/g respectively. It may be concluded that long withdrawal periods prior to slaughter for human consumption are required for pigs treated with furazolidone, because of the long residence time of protein-bound AOZ and the possibility that it might be released from its protein-bound form in the stomach and subsequently be transformed into a hydrazine.

Preferential distribution of streptomycin in pig kidney cortex

In 14 pig kidneys containing streptomycin, an average distribution ratio of 2.5:1 was found for the streptomycin between the cortex and medulla. It is suggested here that cortex alone be used, instead of mixed kidney tissue, in regulatory meat monitoring schemes.

A surprising case of endrin poisoning in dogs

A case of possible malicious poisoning of dogs by endrin was investigated. A variety of tissues were analysed. The stomach contents of one dog contained 5 g/kg endrin. The results are compared with recorded data from feeding studies pursued elsewhere to aid the diagnosis of dieldrin and endrin intoxication. A number of organochlorine compounds closely related chemically to endrin were tentatively identified.

Excretion of disodium bis-2-mercaptoethanesulphonate (dimesna) in the urine of volunteers after oral dosing

Dimesna was given to volunteers (n = 6) and levels of free thiols, mesna, cysteine and disulphides measured in urine. Mesna is excreted in the urine following oral dimesna administration. Peak urinary free thiol levels occur between 10 and 20 hr. Cysteine and mixed disulphides are also excreted. Mesna might be useful in prolonged bladder protection during oxazaphosphorine cancer chemotherapy.

The fate of [14C]-mesna in the rat

[14C]-Mesna (sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulphonate) has a short serum t1/2 (about 16.5 min) and is excreted in the urine. Within 24 h approx. 77% of the administered dose appeared in the urine. It is bound to serum albumin and immunoglobulins. Total serum protein binding is about 9.7% of the total amount present in serum. [14C]-mesna + [14C]-dimesna (bis[2-mercaptoethane sulphonate]) are present in the blood stream, and so are found in the body organs at low concentration, however, localisation of radioactivity occurs in the kidneys. The binding of [14C]-mesna to proteins and the localisation of [14C]-mesna or [14C]-dimesna in the kidneys are discussed in the context of the cell killing efficacy of the oxazaphosphorines.

Myoglobinuria due to heroin abuse

Images

Excretion of sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulphonate (MESNA) in the urine of volunteers after oral dosing

Sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulphonate (MESNA) is a uroprotective agent generally given i.v. to prevent haemorrhagic cystitis during oxazaphosphorine cancer chemotherapy. Oral administration of the drug is described since this might be an important route during long-term oxazaphosphorine treatment. MESNA is absorbed from the GI tract and excreted in the urine (about 41.5% of the dose), peak excretion being 2-3 hr after administration. A proportion of the excreted dose is as free thiols (about 24.2%) and the remainder is as disulphides. MESNA is shown to enhance excretion of cysteine in urine.

The prevention by (+)-Cyanidanol-3 of hepatitis-induced changes in the disposition of imipramine in the rat

The administration of (+)-Cyanidanol-3 [+)-catechin) to the rat using a subchronic dosing regime based on that currently used in the therapy of acute viral hepatitis in man, largely prevented the changes in the disposition of a single dose of [14C]imipramine hydrochloride induced by the hepatotoxin, D-(+)-galactosamine hydrochloride in rats. Complete return to normal pharmacokinetics was not attained due to interaction between (+)-Cyanidanol-3 and imipramine. Biliary excretion of imipramine metabolites was 79.3% of the dose in control rats. This was reduced to 69.3 and 39.8% by the separate administration of (+)-catechin and galactosamine respectively. Concurrent administration of (+)-Cyanidanol-3 and galactosamine resulted in 64.8% of the imipramine dose appearing in bile. These results were reflected in changes in faecal and renal excretion of imipramine metabolites in surgically unmodified rats in which galactosamine injection caused an elevation of urinary excretion from 31.0 to 69.8% of the imipramine dose. Concurrent Cyanidanol administration reduced the effect of galactosamine so that only 46.9% was excreted in urine. These changes were due to decreased biliary excretion and increased renal excretion of the glucuronide conjugates of 2-hydroxyimipramine, 2-hydroxydesmethylimipramine and 10-hydroxyimipramine. None of the treatments used impaired the overall ability of the rat to metabolize imipramine, although the plasma clearance of imipramine was reduced by 42% as a result of galactosamine administration and by 21% during treatment with (+)-catechin alone or combined catechin and galactosamine treatment.

The metabolism and excretion of [14C]imipramine in an experimental hepatitis

The effect of experimental hepatitis, induced by i.p. D-galactosamine, on the metabolism and excretion of [14C]imipramine in the rat is reported. The major consequence was an increase of the conjugated metabolites of imipramine excreted in urine, resulting in a four-fold increase in 2-hydroxyimipramine glucuronide and two-fold increases in 2-hydroxydesmethylimipramine glucuronide and 10-hydroxyimipramine glucuronide. The total excretion of 14C-labelled metabolites in urine of galactosamine-treated rats was 69% dose compared with 37% in untreated animals. Faecal excretion of [14C]imipramine metabolites was lowered from 68% dose in untreated animals to 27% in animals with induced hepatitis. Induction of a galactosamine hepatitis decreased markedly the biliary excretion of imipramine metabolites in bile duct-cannulated rats; 80% dose was excreted in bile in normal rats, and 35.5% in rats with hepatitis. Plasma clearance of imipramine, after i.v. dosage, was decreased by 60% and clearance of metabolites (excluding imipramine) by 40%, in galactosamine hepatitis; the pharmacokinetics changed from a two- to a single-compartment system reflecting decreased extraction and/or metabolism, by the liver. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the hazard attending the use of imipramine in patients suffering from liver disease.