Blood content in guinea-pig tissues: correction for the study of drug tissue distribution

The blood content in different organs or tissues of guinea-pigs was determined by means of [125I]bovine serum albumin. The blood distribution expressed as percentage of total body blood for various organs or tissues ranged from 0.35 (adipose) to 17.5 (muscle)%. The blood content in tissue preparations expressed as the blood background correction factor, F (ml blood/g wet tissue) depended on the extent of bleeding during experiment; that factor can cause a considerable difference in the results of a tissue distribution study of a drug. Blood content was high in the lung (0.36 ml/g), heart, liver, kidney and spleen, but low in adipose and brain tissues (0.021 ml/g). The distribution of valproic acid in various tissues of guinea-pigs after intravenous injection was determined from the homogenates of isolated organs. The results showed that blood contamination can greatly alter the data of tissue distribution of a drug to as much as 25%. This study proposed a maximum (non-bled) and a minimum (extreme-bled) blood background correction factor for respective tissues of guinea-pigs, as well as equations for correcting the blood contamination in tissue during the drug distribution study. The results suggest that to obtain an exact analysis of drug concentrations in specific tissues, a correction for the blood of that specific tissue is necessary.

Effects of sodium valproate and 4en-valproic acid on isolated hepatocytes of guinea pigs

The effects of valproic acid (VPA) (100 to 2,000 micrograms/ml) and its metabolite 4en-valproic acid (4enVPA) (2 to 2,000 micrograms/ml) on plasma membrane permeability of isolated hepatocytes of guinea pigs were studied. The ability of hepatocytes to exclude trypan blue was decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) by VPA at concentrations higher than 100 micrograms/ml. The leakage of intracellular enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), were not significantly increased by VPA within therapeutic concentrations (100-200 micrograms/ml). However, GOT and GPT leakage were significantly increased (p less than 0.05) by VPA, 500 micrograms/ml, but tended to decrease with further increases in VPA concentration. The enzyme leakage or trypan blue exclusion was not significantly altered by 10 micrograms/ml 4enVPA unless phenytoin (PT) (20 micrograms/ml) or phenobarbital (PB) (20 micrograms/ml) was presented. Higher concentrations of 4enVPA significantly decreased the trypan blue exclusion as well as increased GOT and GPT leakage of hepatocytes. Under scanning electron microscopic examination some hepatocytes at therapeutic concentrations of VPA or 4enVPA showed blebs on the membrane. Higher drug concentrations caused serious membrane damage such as pits and pores. These results suggest that there may be at least two mechanisms for the hepatotoxic effect of VPA. One may occur at therapeutic concentrations of VPA, resulting in increases in membrane permeability and decreases in membrane tension of hepatocytes. The other mechanism may occur at high concentrations of VPA or 4enVPA, resulting in substantial damage to the hepatocyte membrane.

[Immunosuppressive effect of cultured Cordyceps sinensis on cellular immune response]

The immunosuppressive effect of cultured Cordyceps sinensis (Bei Lin Capsule) was studied in vitro and in vivo. When the drug was added from 0.6 mg/ml to 5 mg/ml a significant dose-dependent inhibition effect was shown in the following immune reactions of mice (P less than 0.05-0.01): phagocytic function of peripheral blood leucocytes assayed by chemiluminescence; mitogenic response of spleen lymphocytes to Con A; mixed lymphocyte culture and LPS induced interleukin-1 release of macrophages. The survival rate of mice spleen lymphocytes cultured with Cordyceps sinensis 5 mg/ml in 37 degrees C 5% CO2 for 5 days was more than 80%. Cordyceps sinensis 4 g/kg daily significantly prolonged the mice skin allograft survival time (12.7 +/- 2.2 days v.s. 8.3 +/- 0.7 days in the control, P less than 0.01) and its immunosuppressive effect was close to that of Cyclosporin A 5 mg/kg daily on skin allograft.

Drug interaction. Effects of salicylate on pharmacokinetics of valproic acid in rats

The effects of salicylic acid on the pharmacokinetics of valproic acid were investigated in bile-exteriorized rats. A 50 mg/kg bolus dose of sodium valproate was injected iv to Long Evans rats with and without (control) prior treatment by constant infusion of salicylate to keep it at steady state plasma level (about 250 micrograms/ml). The plasma elimination of valproic acid followed a monoexponential decline in both salicylate-treated and control rats. A significant increase (p less than 0.01) in the disposition rate constant (kel), the volume of distribution (Vd), and the total clearance (Cltot) as well as a significant decrease (p less than 0.01) in the AUC and the elimination half-life (t1/2) were observed in the salicylate-treated rats. In spite of the significantly lowered total plasma level and increased unbound fraction of valproic acid in the salicylate-treated rats, there were no significant differences in unbound valproic plasma levels and unbound valproate pharmacokinetic parameters. The biliary excretion of unchanged and conjugated valproate was not significantly different between the two groups. The in vitro plasma-unbound fractions (fu) of valproic acid were significantly increased (p less than 0.01) in the presence of salicylic acid. The apparent dissociation constant of plasma protein binding for valproic acid was increased from 0.287 to 1.204 mM in the presence of salicylic acid. These findings indicate that the pharmacokinetic changes of valproic acid in the presence of salicylic acid were consistent with the elevation in the plasma-unbound fraction of valproic acid due to displacement from plasma protein-binding sites by salicylic acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of valproate in guinea pigs of different ages

The dose-dependence of sodium valproate (VPA) pharmacokinetics in relation to age was studied using guinea pigs. Sodium valproate in doses of 20, 200, and 600 mg/kg was administered by rapid intravenous infusion to male guinea pigs 3, 21, and 42 days old. Serum levels of VPA were determined by gas chromatography. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated based upon a two-compartment model. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) increased out of proportion at the 600 mg/kg dose level in all groups. Other pharmacokinetic changes were as follows: in 3-day-old guinea pigs, the slow disposition rate constant (beta), the elimination rate constant from central compartment (K10), and the total clearance (Clt) were significantly decreased and the beta phase half-life (t 1/2) and the volume of central compartment (V1) were significantly increased at the 600 mg/kg dose level. In 21-day-old guinea pigs, beta and K10 were significantly decreased and t1/2 and V1 were significantly increased at doses of both 200 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg. In 42-day-old guinea pigs, however, only V1 and the volume of distribution at steady-state (Vss) showed significant increase after increasing doses. The extraction ratio (E) and the clearance of unbound drug (Clu), which were calculated based on unbound plasma levels, indicate that the dose-dependent kinetics of VPA are probably due to saturation of metabolism and that the metabolic capacity for VPA in the newborn group is the smallest among all groups.

Changes in pharmacokinetics of valproic acid in guinea pigs from birth to maturity

Pharmacokinetic variations of valproic acid in guinea pigs from birth to maturity were investigated. Male guinea pigs were classified into three groups according to age, and each group was further divided into two to three subgroups. The suckling group included three subgroups of 3, 6, and 10 days of age; the juvenile group, three subgroups of 14, 21, and 28 days of age; and the adult group, two subgroups of 42 and 56 days of age. The bile was exteriorized to exclude the factor of enterohepatic circulation during the experiment. Pharmacokinetic parameters were studied and statistically analyzed after an intravenous single dose of 20 mg/kg of sodium valproate. A significantly (p less than 0.01) longer elimination half-life (t1/2) in guinea pigs less than 10 days of age compared with other groups was observed. Total clearance (Cltot) was significantly smaller (p less than 0.01) in the suckling group than in the juvenile group. Volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) was not significantly different between the suckling and juvenile groups, but was significantly smallest (p less than 0.01) in the adult group. In vitro study showed that the blood-to-plasma concentration ratio, ranging from 0.81 to 0.84, and the plasma unbound fraction (fu), ranging from 0.24 to 0.38, of valproic acid around therapeutic levels (50-100 micrograms/ml) were not significantly different among different age groups. It is obvious that the longer t1/2 in the suckling group is not related to either fu or Vss.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical implications of serum protein binding in epileptic children during sodium valproate maintenance therapy

Steady-state serum levels of total and unbound valproic acid as well as unbound fraction in epileptic children were studied in a clinical setting. Valproic acid binding parameters were analyzed and compared with in vitro findings. Daily dose of sodium valproate ranging from 29 to 73 mg/kg/day were administered per os. Considerable variation in total and unbound concentrations and unbound fractions within and between subjects was observed. In subjects evaluated in this study, serum level of total and unbound valproic acid ranged from 279 to 1,196 mumol/L and from 37 to 410 mumol/L, respectively. The unbound fraction ranged from 10.32 to 48.39%. In vivo binding parameters obtained from clinical material were as follows: association constant, Ka = 4.984 L/mmol; total binding sites, NP = 1.451 mmol/L, where P is the molar concentration of albumin; number of binding sites per molecule of albumin, N = 2.48. Using spiked sera, binding parameters of Ka = 8.032 L/mmol, NP = 1.262 mmol/L, and N = 1.86 were found in the in vitro study. The association constant obtained from in vivo and in vitro studies were not significantly different (p greater than 0.05) from each other. The unbound fraction of valproic acid was concentration dependent even within the therapeutic range. An equation for estimating unbound concentration (Cf') or unbound fraction (fp') from total concentration (Ct) of valproic acid is derived. The ratio of observed unbound fraction to the estimated unbound fraction (fp/fp') was used to evaluate the variation in valproate serum binding of that clinical sample. Nine samples from hospitalized patients whose medication and diet were closely supervised showed an fp/fp' ratio very close to 1 (mean +/- SD 1.04 +/- 0.24). It is suggested that a clinical sample showing a value of fp/fp' greater than 1.76 (mean + 3 SD) should be evaluated for the cause of the decrease in serum binding and for the associated pharmacokinetic alterations. Therefore, in clinical monitoring of valproate, determination of both total and unbound drug levels was preferable to determination of either one alone. Furthermore, an understanding of the unbound fraction of valproic acid would significantly contribute to the effective management of epileptic patients.

Intracellular forms of simian virus 40 nucleoprotein complexes. IV. Micrococcal nuclease digestion

The structures of DNAs present in various intracellular forms of simian virus 40 (SV40) nucleoprotein complexes were analyzed by micrococcal nuclease digestion. The results showed that the 70S SV40 chromatin was completely sensitive to nuclease digestion, whereas CsCl gradient-purified mature virion was completely resistant. Virion assembly intermediates with different degrees of virion maturation showed intermediate resistance, and three products were found: nucleosomal DNA fragments, representing the fraction of intermediates that were sensitive to nuclease; linear SV40 genome-sized DNA, representing the more mature intermediates that contained one or limited defects in the capsid shell; and supercoiled SV40, which was derived from mature virions. These digestion products, however, remained associated with capsid shells after nuclease digestion. These results were consistent with the model in which maturation of the SV40 virion is achieved through the organization of capsid proteins that accumulate around SV40 chromatin. Mild digestion of SV40 nucleoprotein complexes with micrococcal nuclease revealed the difference in nucleosome repeat length between SV40 chromatin and virion assembly intermediates. A novel DNA fragment of about 75 nucleotides was observed early in nuclease digestion.

Effect of sulfadimethoxine on thiopental distribution and elimination in rats

The effect of sulfadimethoxine on the distribution and elimination of thiopental was examined by comparing the change in the steady-state volume of distribution (Vss) determined from both in vivo plasma elimination and in vitro serum and tissue binding studies in rats. The plasma disappearance of thiopental after a 12-mg/kg iv dose followed a biexponential decline in both the control and sulfadimethoxine-treated rats. The plasma thiopental concentrations under the steady-state plasma sulfadimethoxine concentration (500 micrograms/ml) were significantly lower than those of the control rats. In the sulfadimethoxine-treated rats, the pharmacokinetic parameter beta significantly decreased while Vss significantly increased to 3.6-fold that of the control rats. With sulfadimethoxine, a significant increase was observed in the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of thiopental to serum protein by equilibrium dialysis, but the total number of binding sites was not altered. The in vitro serum free fraction of thiopental was increased to about 2.6-fold in the presence of sulfadimethoxine. The free fraction of thiopental in the main distribution tissues (liver, muscle, and adipose) was determined by equilibrium dialysis with and without sulfadimethoxine. No significant changes were observed in the presence of sulfadimethoxine. The calculated Vss, determined by the free fractions from in vitro binding experiments, also showed a significant increase. The ratio of Vss with sulfadimethoxine to that of the control rats was 2.8. The total clearance did not change, but the intrinsic clearance decreased to one-half of that of the control rats due to the increase of the serum free fraction by sulfadimethoxine. It was concluded that sulfadimethoxine caused a displacement of thiopental in plasma protein binding, which significantly increased the free fraction of thiopental, and this result may explain the significant increase of Vss and the decrease of both beta and intrinsic clearance. Tissue binding of thiopental, however, was unaffected by sulfadimethoxine.