Effect of sugar-modified beta-cyclodextrins on dissolution and absorption characteristics of phenytoin

Inclusion complexes of phenytoin (DPH) with 6-O-alpha-D-glucosyl (G1)- and 6-O-alpha-D-maltosyl (G2)-beta-cyclodextrins (beta-CyDs) were prepared in a molecular mixing ratio of 1:1. The advantages of these preparations in terms of dissolution characteristics and the oral absorbency of DPH were evaluated in comparison with the known solid dispersions of polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30 and sodium deoxycholate (DC-Na). The results of a phase-solubility study indicated that G1- and G2-beta-CyDs provided higher solubility for DPH than 2-hydroxypropyl (HP)-beta-CyD. Irrespective of inclusion ability, the DPH/beta-CyD complexes allowed faster dissolution rates than those of the known dispersions in JP 1st and 2nd mediums. The dissolution behavior of the DPH/DC-Na dispersion was considerably different between the 1st and 2nd mediums. The complexation by the sugar-modified derivatives yielded a higher stability of dissolved DPH in the JP 2nd medium than that yielded by K-30 or DC-Na. The safe estimation of carriers themselves indicated that G1- and G2-bet-CyDs did not damage the small intestine, while 10 mM DC-Na showed some damage. Compared with the DPH/K-30 dispersion, the preparations with the sugar-modified beta-CyDs were more effective in enhancing the absorbability of DPH after oral administration. These results clearly suggest that complexation with G1- and G2-beta-CyDs are useful forms for the oral delivery of DPH. The advantage of these complexes is that they produce an increased level of DPH available for gastrointestinal absorption. Additionally, G2-beta-CyD is recommended as a safe and potent additive for DPH.

Pharmacokinetic drug interactions between ampiroxicam and sulfaphenazole in rats

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of sulfaphenazole (SP) on the pharmacokinetics of ampiroxicam (AM) which is metabolized by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 2C9, since SP is a potent inhibitor of CYP 2C9, and so a dramatic pharmacokinetic drug interaction between both drugs is assumed after dosing. Single intravenous and oral administrations of AM (5 and 7.5 mg/kg piroxicam equivalent, respectively) and SP (80 and 120 mg/kg, respectively) to rats did not significantly alter the elimination kinetics of AM and piroxicam (PX) converted from AM. When SP was preloaded orally at 2 h before the dosing of AM, and when AM and SP were orally coadministered for 7 d, the elimination of PX from plasma was slightly retarded and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was increased 77 and 53%, respectively, but not significantly, compared with those after AM alone. On the other hand, a significantly decreased metabolic conversion of PX to 5'-hydroxyPX in plasma was observed by these treatments (p<0.05). In order to clarify the mechanism for the interaction, hepatic and intestinal metabolizing enzyme activities, CYP, uridine 5'-diphosphoglucuronyltransferase (UDPGT) and aryl esterase, were assayed after single and multiple oral administrations of AM or AM and SP. The enzyme activities were hardly inhibited by the treatment, indicating that the inhibition of CYP and hydrolytic enzymes by SP was approximately denied. These results suggest that SP does not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of AM and PX in rats. However, the pharmacokinetic drug interaction between both drugs in man may not always be ignored.

Enhancement of the oral bioavailability of phenytoin by N-acetylation and absorptive characteristics

To improve the absorbability of phenytoin (DPH), a prodrug, N-acetyl-DPH (EDPH), was synthesized, and the absorptive characteristics and pharmacokinetics of the prodrug were evaluated in rats. EDPH was rapidly hydrolyzed to DPH in the intestinal fluid and the mucosa (rate constant, 0.055 and 0.169 min(-1), respectively). The plasma concentrations of DPH after intravenous dosing of EDPH declined in a biexponential manner, although two different elimination patterns were observed in these rats. When dosed orally (25 mg/kg, DPH equivalent), the plasma levels of DPH converted from the prodrug were significantly higher and more sustained than those after DPH alone, giving bioavailability 11.4 (rapid decay) and 9.1 times (slow decay) as high, respectively, as that after DPH alone. The concentrations of DPH distributed into the mucosa of the duodenum and jejunum 1 and 5 h after oral dosing of EDPH were significantly higher than those after DPH alone. The prodrug and DPH converted from the prodrug dissolved 2-4 fold more than DPH alone in bile salt solution and bile salt-oleic acid mixed micelles, indicating the increased solubility of the prodrug in the intestinal fluid. It is concluded from the data that such high solubility of EDPH enhanced the intestinal absorption of the prodrug, part of which would be absorbed in the amide form, and thus gave the high bioavailability.

Pharmacokinetics of aniracetam and its metabolites in rats

The pharmacokinetics of aniracetam (AP), a new cognitive performance enhancer, and its main metabolites was investigated after intravenous (iv) and oral administrations to rat. The plasma levels of AP, 4-p-anisamidobutyric acid (ABA), and p-anisic acid (AA) were determined simultaneously by the HPLC method. The plasma concentrations of the parent drug and ABA quickly declined in a biexponential manner, with rapid terminal decay and a small mean residence time. However, AA yielded nonlinearly high levels at the initial times and the plasma concentrations of 2-pyrrolidinone (PD) were sustained over a relatively long time. When AA was administered intravenously, nonlinearity of the plasma concentrations was also found at higher doses. To describe the time course of the plasma levels of AP and its metabolites after iv administration, a pharmacokinetic model with seven compartments was applied, which included 10 first-order rate constants and one Michaelis-Menten constant. An approximate fit was obtained between the observed and calculated curves based on the model, except for the plasma concentrations of ABA. The plasma concentration-time profiles of AP and its metabolites following oral administration of AP (50 and 100 mg/kg) were similar to those after iv dosing, with the exception of PD, which showed much lower plasma levels than those after iv administration. Elimination of AP and ABA was rapid after oral dosing, and the bioavailability of AP was extremely small (11.4 and 8.6%). As a result, AP was largely metabolized to ABA, AA, and PD in rat.

Study of standard tablet formulation based on fluidized-bed granulation

In this study, acetaminophen, ascorbic acid, and ethenzamide were selected as model drugs for tableting granules. Agitation and fluidized-bed granulation were carried out at three drug contents of 30, 50, and 70%. Compared with agitation granulation, granules made by fluidized-bed granulation showed superior compressibility with wide formulation allowance for drug type and amount. Fluidized-bed granulation resulted in less granule hardness and greater plastic deformability. The granules had considerable compactness and for tablets containing 70% ethenzamide, prolonged disintegration and dissolution times were noted. These are typical features of granules produced by fluidized-bed granulation.

Pharmacokinetics of ozagrel and its metabolites after intravenous and oral administrations

The pharmacokinetics of ozagrel, a selective thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor, and its metabolites (M1 and M2) was investigated in rats. The plasma concentration-time profile of ozagrel was biexponential with a rapid terminal decay (t1/2beta, 0.173 and 0.160 h at doses of 15 and 45 mg/kg, respectively). Metabolites M1 and M2 appeared in plasma immediately after intravenous (iv) dosing of the parent drug. Similar patterns of metabolites were observed in plasma after oral dosing, although concentrations of M2 were higher than those of M1, indicating the metabolic conversion of ozagrel to M2 and M1. However, a saturable first-pass clearance was seen at a high dose (60 mg/kg) of oral ozagrel. When M2 was administered iv, M1 appeared in the circulation system at appreciable levels, providing the first evidence of metabolic conversion of M2 to M1 in the systemic circulation. Ozagrel was partly metabolized to M2 and M1 in rat intestinal mucosa, although the main metabolic site might be in the liver. The results indicate that the metabolic pathway of ozagrel in rats is the conversion of the parent drug to M2 and M1 and the conversion of M2 to M1.

Pharmacokinetic analysis of enterohepatic circulation of etodolac and effect of hepatic and renal injury on the pharmacokinetics

This study was designed to evaluate the enterohepatic circulation of racemic etodolac in rats. Additionally, the effect of hepatic and renal failure on the pharmacokinetics was estimated. The biliary excretion and the reabsorption of the drug excreted in bile were examined in order to clarify the effect of enterohepatic circulation on the disposition, and a pharmacokinetics model was applied to describe the enterohepatic circulation. The relatively rapid elimination of etodolac was seen in the bile-exteriorized rats (BE rat) compared with that in control rats. Total biliary excretion of etodolac, mainly as glucuronides, after intravenous administration was about 45% of the dose, indicating extensive enterohepatic circulation of the drug. The plasma concentrations of the drug in bile duct-linked rats approximately agreed with the simulation curve by the model, with the peak concentration 6-7 h after dosing. The elimination of the drug was markedly retarded in rats with hepatic (CCI4-induced) and renal (uranyl acetate-induced) failure, and high plasma levels were maintained over the longer times, due to greatly decreased distribution volume. The biliary excretion of etodolac enantiomers was not significantly different between the control and CCI4-groups, suggesting that hepatic glucuronyl transferase activity was preserved in rats impaired by CCI4.

In vitro skin penetration and degradation of enkephalin, elcatonin and insulin

The work described in this paper was designed to evaluate the relevance of in vitro skin penetration studies of peptides across rat skin. The apparent penetration of three peptides, enkephalin, elcatonin and insulin, in the presence of enhancers was not seen in the in vitro method using Franz diffusion cells. However, when a protease inhibitor was mixed in the receptor fluid, the penetration of enkephalin and insulin was observed. Although insulin penetrated in the presence of enhancers, the penetration was extremely small in quantity and the cumulative amount did not increase with time. When the degradation of peptides in the receptor fluid of Franz cell was estimated, these peptides, especially enkephalin and insulin, were rapidly hydrolyzed and were almost completely lost within 3 h in the absence of an inhibitor, while elcatonin was slowly degraded. The addition of protease inhibitors, such as gabexate (20 mM), camostat (20 mM) or bile salt (taurocholate and deoxycholate, 10 mM), to the receptor fluid inhibited the degradation to a considerable extent, with the first-order rate constants decreased to one-tenth compared with the constants without inhibitors. From the inhibitory study using specific inhibitors, it was clarified that enkephalin and elcatonin were mainly hydrolyzed by aminopeptidases, endopeptidases and serine proteases in the viable skin. Consequently, the results obtained from the in vitro penetration studies without inhibitors did not reflect reliable penetration data. Thus, effective protease inhibitor(s) should be used to obtain the data corresponding to the in vivo transdermal experiment. This methodology will provide a means to eliminate the confounding effect of metabolism in permeation experiments.

Pharmacokinetics of indomethacin ester prodrugs: gastrointestinal and hepatic toxicity and the hydrolytic capacity of various tissues in rats

In order to develop a potential prodrug of indomethacin (IM) which causes less irritation to the gastrointestinal mucosa, the ester prodrugs [butyl ester (IM-BE) and octyl ester (IM-OE)] of IM were synthesized and evaluated for their ulcerogenic activity and hepatic injury after oral administration in rats. Additionally, the kinetics of hydrolysis of the prodrugs were examined to characterize the tissues or organs capable of hydrolyzing the ester bonds. The plasma levels of IM after the oral administration of IM-OE and IM-BE were comparatively low compared with those after IM, with a small bioavailability (2.1 and 15.0%, respectively). Ulcerogenic activity and hepatic injury, expressed by decreased hepatic microsomal enzyme activities, were hardly seen after repeated oral administration of the prodrugs, in contrast with the severely irritating effects of IM alone. Hydrolysis of the prodrugs was adequately described by first-order kinetics. IM-BE was relatively rapidly hydrolyzed in plasma, skin and whole blood, but the hydrolysis in the intestinal mucosa and liver was very slow. The hydrolytic rates for IM-OE were exceedingly small or negligible. These results indicate that the main part of IM-BE and IM-OE administered orally might not be hydrolyzed to IM in the gastrointestinal tract, and that the ester prodrugs themselves were absorbed through the mucosa; also, that the hydrolysis of ester bonds would be carried out mainly in the circulatory system. Consequently, IM-BE seems to be an ideal prodrug of IM.

Acute dose-dependent disposition studies of nicotinic acid in rats

The pharmacokinetics of nicotinic acid (NiAc) and nicotinuric acid (NiUAc), the major metabolite of NiAc, and the dose dependency of these pharmacokinetics were determined in rats. Intravenous injections of 2, 5, 15, and 45 mg/kg of NiAc and 5 and 15 mg/kg of NiUAc were administered, and plasma and urine samples were assayed for NiAc and NiUAc by HPLC. The plasma concentration-time profiles of NiAc showed a typical characteristic of capacity-limited elimination after higher doses. When the NiAc dose was elevated, the total plasma clearance of NiAc decreased dramatically, and the normalized area under the plasma concentration-curve increased markedly. There was no change in the volume of distribution at steady state. After the administration of NiUAc, however, the pharmacokinetics of NiUAc were linear, at least up to a dose of 15 mg/kg. With increasing doses of NiAc, the ratio for NiUAc to unchanged drug excreted in urine decreased markedly from 4.54 +/- 0.93 at 2 mg/kg to 0.37 +/- 0.12 at 45 mg/kg while the renal clearance of NiAc remained constant. An in vitro study of the plasma protein binding of NiAc showed no saturability, with a 40 to 50% bound fraction, when total NiAc concentrations were 1 to 130 micrograms/ml. Plasma NiAc profiles after the iv administration of NiAc were adequately described by the two-compartment model including the "pooled" Michaelis-Menten elimination process. The present results suggest that the nonlinear disposition of NiAc can be attributed in part to the saturation of glycine conjugation, and also, probably to amidation.

Protection against metastasis by immunization with an allogeneic lymphocyte antigen

Q5 antigens are expressed on the surface of various experimental murine tumor cells. They share partially common antigenicity with Qa-2 alloantigens expressed on normal lymphocytes. For that reason we tested the immunoprotection by anti-Qa-2 immunization of mice against a Q5+ tumor. Nerve fibrosarcoma (NSFA) tumor, which specifically develops metastasis in the lung, has been reported to be poorly immunogenic. However, expression of the Q5 antigen was evident on the surface of NFSA cells. After immunizing (C3H/He x B6.K1)F1 (Qa-2-) mice with B6 (Qa-2+) lymphocytes, the protection against the proliferation of the semi-syngeneic NFSA tumor was examined. First, immunization of normal mice induced resistance to NFSA cell transplants. Second, when the tumor cells were transplanted to the hind foot of a mouse and the resulting tumor was removed by amputating the leg, the mice were protected against the development of lung metastasis after immunization by intraperitoneal inoculation of B6 cells 3 days after tumor removal. Immunization with attenuated NFSA cells in this system failed to protect the mice from lung metastasis. On the other hand, inoculation of the mice with B6 cells without removal of the original tumor on the foot showed little effect on the progression of the tumor. Thus, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), which seemed to be present in an inactive form in the mice from which the tumor had not been removed, were induced in the mice after the removal of the major tumor followed by immunization with B6 lymphocytes. The induction of CTL by the immunization was suppressed in mice bearing large tumors. Cells stimulated by the tumor antigen seemed to be involved in the suppression. It was also shown that the Q5 antigen is the direct recognition target of the CTL since the activity of Q5-specific CTL clones in lysing tumor cells was inhibited by a monoclonal antibody specific for the Q5 antigen. In contrast to immunization with attenuated tumor cells, our novel allogeneic lymphocyte immunization procedure offers high CTL activation, by-passing the induction of T cell unresponsiveness.

Percutaneous penetration of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextrans and the mechanism for enhancement effect of enhancers on the intercellular penetration

To identify the mechanism involved in the enhancement effect of enhancers on the intercellular penetration of large polar molecules, the skin penetration of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextrans (average molecular weight; 4400, 9400, and 69000 Da) and the lipid removal from the intercellular spaces by enhancers were studied using hairless rat skin. Pretreatment of hairless rat skin with enhancers such as n-octanol (20%), laurocapram (2%), isopropylmyristate (IPM, 20%), oleic acid (5%) and cineol (2%), which are water-immiscible, significantly enhanced the flux of FITC-dextrans, while pretreatment with water-miscible enhancers, i.e. dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 5%) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) did not increase the flux compared with the control. The penetration of FITC-dextrans was approximately size dependent. n-Octanol, laurocapram, IPM and oleic acid dramatically removed ceramides which are the intercellular lipids, whereas NMP and DMSO partly extracted the sphingolipids. A linear relationship was observed between the flux and removal of ceramides (p < 0.01), indicating that the removal of intercellular lipids would cause dramatic dilations between adherent cornified cells and enhance the penetration through the intercellular pathways. When the penetration of FITC-dextrans through Wistar rat skin was compared with that via hairless rat skin, the steady state flux of FITC-dextrans through Wistar rat skin pretreated with water-immiscible enhancers was 1.2- to 4.9-fold higher, suggesting that the penetration of large polar molecules through follicles may play at least some role in the percutaneous absorption.

Comparison of the in vitro skin penetration of propiverine with that of terodiline

This study was designed to clarify the relationship between the properties of propiverine and skin penetration, and to compare the in vitro penetration characteristics of propiverine and terodiline through rat skin. Propiverine in both hydrochloride and free forms penetrated across the skin extremely slowly, with a 2.6 times higher flux in the hydrochloride than that in the free base, in the absence of enhancers. Various enhancers failed to enhance the penetration of propiverine hydrochloride, whereas the same agents slightly increased the flux of the free form, these being due to the slow release rate of the free form from the gel formulations, an extremely high lipophilicity (log Poct/water > 4.97), much less solubility (0.141 mg/ml) and a large partition capacity of the drug to skin components. Terodiline in both forms was able to rapidly penetrate through the skin, even in the absence of enhancers, with 20.2 and 9.8 times higher fluxes respectively, than the corresponding forms of propiverine. The high penetration characteristics of terodiline would be due to a suitable lipophilicity, low binding property as well as the structural masking from the binding to the epidermal components. Propiverine hydrochloride penetrated through the stratum corneum 4.4 times and viable skin 3.1 times higher than through full-thickness skin, while the fluxes of terodiline through the stratum corneum and viable skin were similar to each other, with high penetration rates for each form.

Mechanism of the enhancement effect of n-octyl-beta-D-thioglucoside on the transdermal penetration of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextrans and the molecular weight dependence of water-soluble penetrants through stripped skin

To clarify the mechanism of the enhancing effect of n-octyl-beta-D-thioglucoside (OTG), which acts as a potent enhancer for skin penetration of peptides and water-soluble penetrants, the in vitro penetration of macromolecules [fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextrans (FTIC-dextrans)] was evaluated with hairless rat skin and stripped skin. The FITC-dextrans (MW, 4400, 9600, and 69,000 Da, referred to as FD-4, FD-10, and FD-70, respectively) penetrated more easily in the presence of OTG (1.5%), with high fluxes equivalent to those through stripped skin. This result indicated that the enhancement effect of OTG on the penetration of macromolecules through the stratum corneum was extensive, and the barrier function of the corneum was nearly eliminated by the OTG treatment. OTG significantly solubilized the stratum corneum proteins and ceramides during the initial time stage. Scanning electron microscopic observations demonstrated that OTG treatment dramatically changed the cell membrane (i.e., exfoliation of cell membranes and dissociation of adherent cornified cells), suggesting a significant disturbance of the cohesive laminae and barrier functions. The extent of dissociation of cell membranes increased with treatment time, without significant changes in the cell junctions. These results clarify that the enhancement mechanism of OTG was different from that of laurocapram and other lipophilic enhancers. The permeability of polar solutes with differing molecular sizes (MW, 180-69,000 Da) through stripped skin was size dependent (r = 0.997, p < 0.001). However, the viable epidermis and dermis restricted the penetration of macromolecules, such as FD-70.

Physicochemical and hydrolytic characteristics of phenytoin derivatives

To further clarify the pharmacokinetic characteristics of phenytoin (DPH) and its derivatives, DPH-1-methylnicotininate (MNDPH), valeroyl DPH (VADPH) and valproyl DPH (VPDPH), in plasma and brain, we have investigated their physicochemical properties and protein binding characteristics. Additionally, the hydrolytic conversion of these derivatives to DPH was also studied using small intestine, liver and brain tissues, as well as rat plasma. The log partition coefficient (PC) values of all derivatives were much higher than that of DPH. Judging from their pKa values (5.68 and 5.91 for VADPH and VPDPH, respectively) and pH-solubilities, VADPH and VPDPH were acidic compounds, while MNDPH was basic. These data indicated that most fractions of VADPH and VPDPH existed as an ionized form (these fractions existed in an ionized form, 0.98 and 0.97, respectively) at physiological pH, whereas MNDPH existed as a unionized form under the same conditions. Rosenthal or Scatchard plots of the binding data of DPH and its derivatives to both rat plasma protein and bovine serum albumin (BSA) exhibited straight lines over their concentration ranges used, indicating that DPH and its derivatives have a single binding site on the protein. The binding potencies (K or n.Pt value) of the derivatives to both proteins were much greater than that of DPH. No DPH produced from VADPH and VPDPH was found in the biological fluids over a period of 24 h. However, the hydrolysis of MNDPH to DPH was observed in plasma and the tissues used, with the most rapid hydrolysis in the small intestine, and the hydrolysis rate constant in plasma was ca. 20-fold greater than that in the brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Percutaneous absorption of physiologically active peptides, ebiratide and elcatonin, in rats

This study was designed to evaluate the percutaneous absorption of physiologically active peptides, ebiratide (a behaviorally potent adrenocorticotropic analog) and elcatonin (a hypocalcemic peptide) in an attempt to develop an efficient transdermal therapeutic system for the treatment of diseases. The [125I]ebiratide penetration through rat skin from gel formulations could be described fairly well by a zero-order kinetic profile. Skin penetration was the greatest when EDTA, n-octyl-beta-D-thioglucoside (OTG, 1.5%) and taurocholate (1.0%) were combined in a gel formulation. The order of flux was: EDTA, OTG and taurocholate (formulation 3) > OTG and taurocholate (formulation 2) > glucosyl-beta-cyclodextrin and OTG (formulation 4). When the transdermal systems of [125I]ebiratide prepared using a corresponding gel formulation were applied to rat abdomen, the plasma levels of radioactivity after formulations 3 and 2 were much higher than those after formulation 1 without enhancers, and the radioactivity was observed in the brain, although in a very small quantity. The hypocalcemic effect of elcatonin was measured in vivo after application of the transdermal systems. The plasma calcium levels decreased comparatively rapidly and low levels were maintained for a long period, indicating the effectively percutaneous absorption of elcatonin. Formulation 7 containing D-limonen and taurocholate as enhancers and/or inhibitors showed much higher hypocalcemic effect than two other formulations combined with laurocapram or N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, consequently giving the highest pharmacological availability (8.7 +/- 1.0%). These results clearly demonstrated that the peptides were effectively absorbed through rat skin in the presence of enhancers.

Effect of food on propranolol oral clearance and a possible mechanism of this food effect

To better define the mechanism of the increased plasma concentration of propranolol (PL) after meals, the effect of the dietary constitution of a meal on the kinetics of PL and beta-naphthoxylactic acid (NLA), a main metabolite, after administration of the drug, was investigated in rats. Additionally, the hepatic uptake of PL and cytochrome P-450 (P-450) content and uridine 5'-diphosphoglucuronyltransferase (UDPGT) activity in liver were measured after glucose intake. As a result, protein (skim milk) intake slightly, but not significantly, increased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and bioavailability of PL, with a slight increase (16%) in hepatic blood flow, and enhanced PL metabolism to NLA. Soybean oil and fatty acid intake significantly decreased the bioavailability of PL, while glucose intake dramatically decreased the hepatic uptake of PL and P-450 content at high glucose levels, resulting in a decrease in the plasma PL concentration at the initial time period and in the inhibition of a metabolic conversion to NLA. Thus, a possible mechanism involved in the effect of food on PL bioavailability could have been due largely to the decreased microsomal P-450 content and hepatic uptake of PL after glucose intake, but only partly to the increased hepatic blood flow after protein intake.

Pharmacokinetics of indomethacin octyl ester (prodrug) and indomethacin produced from the prodrug

A prodrug of indomethacin, indomethacin octyl ester (IM-OE), was synthesized and its pharmacokinetics was investigated in rat. To describe the time course of the plasma indomethacin and IM-OE after intravenous (iv) and oral administrations, a pharmacokinetic model with four compartments was developed. Indomethacin rapidly appeared in plasma after iv administration of IM-OE and declined in a monoexponential manner, with a rapid decline and low plasma levels of IM-OE. The plasma concentrations of indomethacin after oral administration of IM-OE were much lower than those after oral administration of indomethacin. The high concentrations of IM-OE compared with indomethacin were detected in liver 3 h after oral dosing of the prodrug, although IM-OE was not detected in plasma. A good fit was obtained between the observed and calculated curves based on the model, which includes a conversion rate constant of IM-OE to indomethacin for both iv and oral dosings of IM-OE. Additionally, the model could successfully describe the plasma concentration versus time profiles after indomethacin dosings.

Pharmacokinetics of cyproheptadine and its metabolites in rats

To investigate the pharmacokinetics of cyproheptadine (CPH) and its metabolites, the plasma concentration and urinary excretion of CPH and its detectable metabolites were determined after intravenous (i.v.) administration of parent or synthesized metabolites to rats. The plasma CPH concentration-time course was subjected to biexponential calculation following the i.v. administration of CPH, producing the temporal and low plasma concentrations of desmethylcyproheptadine (DMCPH) and the sustained plasma concentrations of desmethylcyproheptadine-epoxide (DMCPHepo). DMCPH was also eliminated, according to the biexponential equation, after i.v. administration of performed DMCPH, forming DMCPHepo in plasma. On the other hand, no detectable DMCPHepo was found in plasma after the i.v. administration of cyproheptadine epoxide (CPHepo). All compounds administered had large distribution volumes and were almost entirely excreted as DMCPHepo in urine; this excretion continued for a long time. However, the urinary excretion pattern of DMCPHepo after CPHepo was different from those after CPH and DMCPH. The mean residence times of the epoxidized metabolites estimated from the urinary data were much longer than those from the plasma concentration data, suggesting either a gradual reflux of the metabolites from a tissue depot into systemic circulation under those plasma concentrations close of detection limit, or some interaction which delays excretion into the urine. This study suggests that both metabolic pathways of CPH, through DMCPH and CPHepo, to DMCPHepo are possible, but that the demethylation of CPH largely occurs prior to epoxidation; also that the extensive and persistent distribution of DMCPHepo to tissues may relate to the toxicity of CPH reported in rats.

Pharmacokinetic analysis of phenytoin and its derivatives in plasma and brain in rats

The derivatives of phenytoin (DPH) were synthesized by the reaction at 3 position of hydantoin ring with valproic acid and valeric acid, producing valproyl DPH (VPDPH) and valeroyl DPH (VADPH), respectively. These derivatives showed much higher lipid solubilities than that of DPH. Their distribution and elimination were compared to those of DPH. Additionally, the concentration profiles of the drugs in brain and plasma were analyzed with a modified 2-compartment model. DPH and its derivatives, without hydrolysis to DPH in blood, were found rapidly distributed into brain, although the distribution of derivatives was much less, probably due to the high protein binding capacities. The distribution of DPH and its derivatives into brain regions was similar to that into the cortex cerebri. VPDPH and VADPH were more rapidly eliminated from plasma and brain than DPH, giving smaller mean residence time (MRT) values (0.92 and 0.85 h) and much smaller cortex/plasma concentration ratio than those of DPH. The VPDPH and VADPH concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were also much lower than that of DPH. The time course of plasma and brain concentrations of DPH and its derivatives after i.v. administration was successfully described by the modified 2-compartment models presented.

Effectiveness of the elcatonin transdermal system for the treatment of osteoporosis and the effect of the combination of elcatonin and active vitamin D3 in rat

The efficacy of percutaneous elcatonin (EC), a hypocalcemic peptide, in the treatment of experimental osteoporosis in rats was evaluated in vivo. Additionally, the effect of the combined use of EC and active vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) for the treatment was compared with those of three other groups: 1,25(OH)2D3 alone, estradiol plus 1,25(OH)2D3, and a placebo, and low calcium diet (low Ca). The EC transdermal system and the EC plus 1,25(OH)2D3 system, applied to the rat abdominal skin 6 times for 48 h, significantly increased the ash weight and calcium content of the tibia in the rats, compared with those of placebo group (p < 0.05). The EC systems also slightly lowered the alkaline phosphatase activity in plasma of the morbid rats, without a difference in the plasma calcium content. These EC systems were superior to the 1,25(OH)2D3 system and the estradiol plus 1,25(OH)2D3 system in improving osteoporotic parameters. Thus, the EC systems were concluded to be an efficient drug delivery system for Paget's disease and osteoporosis.

Percutaneous absorption of acemetacin from a membrane controlled transdermal system and prediction of the disposition of the drug in rats

To avoid development of a lesion on the small intestine by acemetacin (ACM) following oral administration of the drug, we developed a new device for its percutaneous application. The device for transdermal application of ACM consisted of a silicon O-ring, a backing of aluminum foil and adhesive tape, and rate-controlling membranes with three different pore sizes (HP-1100, 2100 and 4050). Two percent ACM gel ointment was contained in the device. In the in vitro release experiment, the ACM release from the device was limited by these membranes with release rate constants of 0.630 +/- 0.052, 0.289 +/- 0.012, 0.098 +/- 0.11 and 0.083 +/- 0.011 h-1 for no membrane, HP-4050, HP-2100 and HP-1100 membranes, respectively. In the in vitro penetration experiment, the ACM penetrating through the skin appeared in the reservoir cell without the metabolic conversion to indomethacin (IM). After the application of the ACM device with the HP-2100 rate-controlling membrane on the rat abdominal skin, ACM was not detected in the plasma but the therapeutic plasma concentration of IM could be maintained over a 54 h period. These results indicate that the device with a rate-controlling membrane may be useful for the percutaneous application of ACM as an anti-inflammatory drug and its clinical application. For the percutaneous absorption of ACM after application of the ACM devices, the values estimated by the proposed model which consisted of 6 compartments well fit to the data obtained from this in vivo experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Histochemical and electron microscopic study of the formation of trabecular meshwork and changes of glycosaminoglycans]

The development of iridocorneal angle and trabecular tissue was investigated histochemically and electron microscopically. Sixty-three human eyes at from 5 to 22 weeks of gestation were used in this study. For identifying glycosaminoglycans, alcian blue staining and enzyme digestion methods with hyaluronidase and chondroitinase AC and ABC were carried out light microscopically. Electron microscopically, specimens were stained with ruthenium red. In the early stage from 8 to 10 weeks, mesenchymal cells between the primordium of the cornea and the iris became elongated and connected with one another. Desmosome-like junctional complexes were observed in these cells. Schlemm's canal and para-canalicular tissue were observed at 20 weeks and the structure of the meshwork became similar that of adults. From findings of enzyme digestion methods, glycosaminoglycans in trabecular tissue seemed to be mainly hyaluronic acid in the early stage, which was replaced by chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate afterwards. Substances positive for ruthenium red, which seemed to be glycosaminoglycans, was observed in intercellular spaces electron microscopically. They decreased according to development. These findings indicated that the beginning of aqueous outflow might be related to the decrease of glycosaminoglycans in trabecular tissue.

Rectal absorption of acyclovir in rats and improvement of absorption by triglyceride base

The rectal absorption of acyclovir has been evaluated after administration of suppositories without absorption enhancers in rats. The disappearance of plasma acyclovir followed biexponential kinetics after i.v. dosing. Rectal administration of a triglyceride (Vosco S-55 and Vosco S-55 + methylcellulose) suppository gave relatively high plasma concentrations and bioavailabilities (95.3 and 83.4%, respectively) compared with Witepsol and macrogol suppositories. However, the in vitro release profiles from suppositories did not accurately reflect plasma concentrations after rectal dosing. Our results suggest that the rectal administration of acyclovir suppositories may be a promising substitute for intravenous infusion, which is at present used for the treatment.

Effect of mexiletine on elimination and metabolic conversion of theophylline and its major metabolites in rats

In an attempt to clarify the possible mechanism of the interaction between theophylline (TP) and mexiletine (ME), the elimination kinetics and in vitro metabolism of TP and its metabolites were investigated in rats. The plasma elimination of TP, 1,3-dimethyluric acid (1,3-DMU) and 1-methyluric acid (1-MU) was significantly delayed by the intravenous (i.v.) administration of ME. The oral administration of ME also decreased the elimination rate of TP to the same extent as the i.v. dosing. The in vitro metabolic experiment showed that ME significantly inhibited the metabolic conversion of TP to 1,3-DMU and, 1,3-DMU to 1-MU, and slightly inhibited the conversion of TP to 3-methylxanthine, these processes being mediated by microsomal enzymes, with no inhibition of xanthine oxidase. Our results indicated that ME could inhibit the metabolic conversion of TP and its metabolite in rat, as reported in man.