[Gene diagnostics of gender verification test in competitive sports]

The gender verification test (GV) was carried out by gene diagnostics at the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima, 1994. Human genomic DNA samples were extracted from the hair root of female competitors. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to prove the absence of the sex determining region of Y-chromosome (SRY) in order to confirm the femininity, and detection of pseudo autosomal boundary region of Y-chromosome (PABY) in order to confirm that the DNA is extracted from the hair root and the femininity can again be confirmed. A total of 1,300 female competitors were screened. We conclude that this testing is useful for the GV, because hair sampling is easy, the method is simple and there is little contamination.

[A PCR method for examining diarrhea--Escherichia coli]

To identify diarrhea--Escherichia coli(E. coli), especially Enteroinvasive E. coli(EIEC), Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli(VTEC), and Enterotoxigenic E. coli(ETEC), confirmation of pathogenic factors is necessary. We developed a system using the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) that simultaneously confirms the pathogenic genes of these E. coli, and have used it in routine examination. This method is simple and does not require examination for each pathogenic factor. Multiple pathogenic genes could be rapidly detected.

Evidence for a role of Fc epsilon RII/CD23 in the IL-4-induced nitric oxide production by normal human mononuclear phagocytes

IL-4 stimulates NO production by human monocytes. After 6 days of culture with IL-4, human monocytes released detectable amounts of nitrite and L-citrulline that were inhibited in the presence of nitro-L-arginine (1 mM). Incubation with an anti-CD23 mAb Fab fragment that suppressed the biological effect of CD23 led to a strong reduction (50 to 70%) of the IL-4-induced nitrite and L-citrulline production. Ligation of membrane-associated CD23 or stimulation with recombinant soluble CD23 elicited monocytes to release nitrite and L-citrulline that was suppressed by nitro-L-arginine. Preactivation of human monocytes with IFN-gamma led to subsequent increased IL-4- and CD23-driven nitrite and L-citrulline productions that were also suppressed in the presence of either nitro-L-arginine or the anti-CD23 mAb Fab fragment. The CD23 molecule under its membrane or soluble form thus regulates NO generation by human monocytes. In addition, the IL-4-induced NO production could be mediated, at least in part, by CD23.

Effect of temperature in perfusate on local hepatic disposition of BOF-4272, a new xanthine oxidase inhibitor

The effect of temperature on the local hepatic disposition of BOF-4272 [(+/-)-8-(3-methoxy-4-phenylsulfinyl-phenyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5- triazine-4-olate], a new drug used to treat hyperuricemia, was investigated by means of a perfusion experiment following the pulse input into the portal vein of rat, in which the temperature of the perfusate was changed from 37 degrees C down to 4 degrees C. The same perfusion experiment was also attempted using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a reference substance to compare with the hepatic disposition of BOF-4272. The elution time profiles of BOF-4272 and BSA from the liver into the hepatic vein were evaluated by moment analysis. The recovery ratio (FH) and the mean transit time (tH) of BOF-4272 were 22.8 +/- 3.3% and 0.111 +/- 0.008 min at 37 degrees C, respectively. Both FH and tH significantly increased with the decrease in the temperature of the perfusate, 3 times and 2 times greater at 4 degrees C than at 37 degrees C, respectively. The FH and tH of BSA were 98.3 +/- 4.5% and 0.129 +/- 0.013 min at 37 degrees C, respectively. These parameters of BSA were independent of temperature, while those of BOF-4272 showed a definite dependency on temperature. A new estimation method for the elimination rate constant (kc) and the partition ratio (k') in the dispersion model was developed by rearranging the theoretical equations of FH and tH. The index for the elimination (ke) of BOF-4272 decreased with the decrease in temperature, while the index for the distribution (k') increased with the decrease in temperature. This result shows that the metabolism (or the biliary excretion) decreased and the distribution increased with a decrease in temperature, indicating that the hepatic metabolizing pathway which is presumably temperature-dependent is blocked, and the blocked portion of BOF-4272 thus returns back to the perfusate at the low temperature.

Evaluation of intestinal absorption into the portal system in enterohepatic circulation by measuring the difference in portal-venous blood concentrations of diclofenac

PURPOSE

We evaluated the first-pass effects in vivo by the intestine and liver during enterophepatic circulation (EHC) by simultaneously measuring the portal and venous plasma concentrations of the rat.

METHODS

The venous and upper portal blood vessels were cannulated through the jugular and the pyloric veins, respectively, to obtain simultaneously blood samples from both sites. After diclofenac was injected as a bolus through the jugular vein, the concentrations of diclofenac in the portal and jugular veins were measured at time intervals. The absorption rate from the intestinal tract into the portal system was determined using the portal-venous difference in plasma concentrations of diclofenac, considering 40% partitioning of diclofenac into erythrocytes.

RESULTS

After one hour, the plasma concentration in the portal vein was always higher than that in the jugular vein in awakening rats with intact EHC (portal-venous blood concentration difference). No portal-venous difference was observed in awakening rats with bile-duct cannulation. Therefore, it was concluded that this portal-venous concentration difference was not due to the hepatic clearance but to diclofenac reabsorption from the intestinal tract.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 40% of the dose of diclofenac was reabsorbed over 8 hours from the intestinal tract into the portal system. By comparing the reabsorbed amounts in the portal system and in the systemic circulation, the hepatic extraction ratio in vivo (FH) of diclofenac was estimated to be 63%.

Expression of gap junction protein connexin 32 and E-cadherin in human hepatocellular carcinoma

The expression of connexin 32, a major gap junction protein, and E-cadherin, an intercellular adhesion molecule that is supposed to be involved in the regulation of gap junctional intercellular communications, was examined immunohistochemically in seven specimens of human hepatocellular carcinoma and surrounding non-carcinomatous tissues. We found that the number of connexin 32-positive spots per mm2 was significantly less in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues than in the surrounding non-carcinomatous cirrhotic tissues (4360 +/- 3390/mm2 vs 10,030 +/- 3690/mm2; p < 0.01). The number in the latter was also significantly less than that in normal controls (23,560 +/- 4170/mm2). E-cadherin was expressed in all non-carcinomatous hepatocytes as well as carcinomatous cells, except for one case of Edmondson's grade III hepatocellular carcinoma. These results suggest an impairment of cell-to-cell communications in human hepatocellular carcinomas.

New hepatocellular diffusion model for analysis of hepatobiliary transport processes of drugs

A new hepatocellular diffusion model was developed to kinetically evaluate the hepatobiliary transport processes of drugs in the perfusion system, based on the physiological structure of the liver. Since the equations describing the hepatocellular diffusion phenomena were derived as image forms in the Laplace domain, the fast inverse Laplace transform (FILT) was adopted to manipulate the image equations. Cefixime and cefpiramide were selected as model drugs. The concentrations in the perfusate and the excreted amounts into the bile were simultaneously measured at appropriate intervals after the rapid administration of each drug into the portal vein. The hepatocellular diffusion model was fitted to the biliary excretion profiles from rat livers, by means of a nonlinear least squares program, MULTI(FILT). According to this model, the hepatobiliary transport process of drug is kinetically separated into three steps, that is, the diffusion into and through the hepatocytes, the transfer from the hepatocytes into the bile canaliculi, and the movement through the bile canaliculi to the outlet of bile duct. These steps are characterized by the diffusion rate constant through hepatocytes (kdif), the permeability rate constant into the bile canaliculi (kbmc) and the transit time through the bile canaliculi to the outlet of bile duct (tcan), respectively. It was demonstrated that kdif of cefixime (0.023 min-1) was significantly smaller than that of cefpiramide (0.044 min-1), while the differences in kbmc and tcan were not obvious between cefixime and cefpiramide. kbmc and tcan of both drugs were about 1.2 min-1 and about 1.0 min, respectively. These parameters were correlated to the excretion ratio into the bile (Fbile) and the mean transit time from the sinusoid through the hepatocytes to the outlet of bile duct (tbile).

Influence of laparotomy on disposition kinetics of diclofenac in CCl4-intoxicated rats

The effect of the acute hepatic failure induced by CCl4 on the pharmacokinetics of diclofenac, which is definitely subject to enterohepatic circulation (EHC) in normal rats, was evaluated. This hepatic failure extinguished the secondary peak on the plasma time course which is usually observed in normal rats due to EHC. In the group without EHC by means of bile cannulation, the total clearance (CL) markedly decreased by CCl4-intoxication from 0.7 l/h/kg down to 0.1 l/h/kg, and mean residence time (MRT) increased from 0.29 h up to 2.8 h. The plasma time curves of the rats with laparotomy and with bile duct-cannulation were almost the same in the CCl4-intoxicated group. The bile excretion ratio of diclofenac markedly decreased by CCl4-intoxication from 43% down to 13%. In both groups, 92% of the total diclofenac excreted into the bile was glucuronide. While EHC made area under the curve (AUC) and MRT obviously increase in the CCl4-free rats, the effect of EHC on these moments was negligible in the CCl4-intoxicated rats. In the CCl4-intoxicated condition, the elimination of diclofenac in the rats with laparotomy was considerably slower than that in the rats without laparotomy. The plasma time courses were obviously monoexponential in the former group, while those were almost biexponential in the latter group.

[Role of interleukin-4 in the regulation of nitric oxide production by normal human monocytes]

Resting normal human monocytes were found to produce small amounts of cGMP in response to IL-4. This production was inhibited in the presence of LNMMA suggesting an association with activation of the NO synthase (NOS) pathway. In addition, this cGMP generation was abrogated in the presence of either a Ca2+ chelator, EGTA, or a calcium/calmodulin inhibitor, W7, suggesting that IL-4 stimulates the constitutive NOS (cNOS). An enhanced response was observed when monocytes were preincubated with IFN-gamma and whether the cGMP accumulation was still abrogated in the presence of LNMMA it was not affected by either EGTA or W7 suggesting, in that case, the activation of an inducible NOS (iNOS). Taken together these data suggest that IL-4 could stimulate a cNOS in resting and an iNOS in the IFN-gamma-treated human monocytes, indicating that the generation of NO is highly dependent on the maturation state of these cells.

[Relationship between occupational factors and medical indicators related to arteriosclerotic diseases]

The relationship between occupational factors and indicators related to arteriosclerotic diseases which include blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, body mass index, and HMS (Hitachi mental health scale) score. The study subjects were 7226 male electric company employees (40 to 59 years old). Records of annual health examinations were reviewed, and those of 3553 blue-color workers and 1860 white-color workers were used for analyses. The main results were as follows: Work style (overtime work and frequency of business trips) was strongly related to life style. Overtime work and walking time from home to the workplace did not relate to indicators of arteriosclerotic diseases. However, frequency of business trips, working posture and job category were related to most of the indicators. Smoking and frequency of drinking were strongly related to the indicators in both blue-color and white-color workers. In both blue-color and white-color workers, HMS score was not related to work style, but related strongly to psychological factors. In white-color workers, HMS were also related to life style. In addition, this study suggests that a cohort study about the progress of arteriosclerotic diseases in middle-aged workers is necessary, and that more accurate information on work style should be obtained for further investigation.

Creatine kinase isoenzyme BB increased in serum and tumor tissue of patients with giant cell tumor of bone

Increased creatine kinase isoenzyme BB (CK-BB) has been observed in sera from patients with brain injuries and occasionally in sera from patients with malignancy. We report here that, in two patients with giant cell tumor of bone (GCT), preoperative serum CK-BB increased to approximately 20 and 90 U/L, but in postoperative serum the CK-BB decreased to normal values. That the tumors contained CK-BB was indicated by electrophoretic analysis and immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, serum CK-BB was detectable in five additional cases of GCT and in cultured tumor cells from a patient with GCT by an electrophoretic method. These results suggest that CK-BB may be a marker for GCT.

Creatine kinase isoenzyme BB increased in serum and tumor tissue of patients with giant cell tumor of bone

Increased creatine kinase isoenzyme BB (CK-BB) has been observed in sera from patients with brain injuries and occasionally in sera from patients with malignancy. We report here that, in two patients with giant cell tumor of bone (GCT), preoperative serum CK-BB increased to approximately 20 and 90 U/L, but in postoperative serum the CK-BB decreased to normal values. That the tumors contained CK-BB was indicated by electrophoretic analysis and immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, serum CK-BB was detectable in five additional cases of GCT and in cultured tumor cells from a patient with GCT by an electrophoretic method. These results suggest that CK-BB may be a marker for GCT.

Choledochocele with obstructive jaundice: a case report and a review of the Japanese literature

A case of a 57-year-old farmer with a rare type of choledochal cyst (choledochocele; Alonso-Lej's type III) is described. The patient was admitted because of obstructive jaundice and acute biliary infection. Abdominal computed tomography scan showed a cystic lesion in the head of the pancreas, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography disclosed cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the common bile duct. It was suspected that the choledochocele could swell and compress the common bile duct, causing obstructive jaundice and acute cholangitis; therefore, it was surgically resected. We also reviewed 61 cases of choledochocele reported in Japan; the findings were similar to those reported in the English literature.

Regulatory role of nitric oxide in the IL-4-induced IgE production by normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

An in vitro study was performed in order to assess a possible regulatory role of nitric oxide (NO), a short-lived biologic mediator that displays immunoregulatory properties, in the IL-4-driven synthesis of IgE by normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In addition to induce IgE production, IL-4 was found to elicit nitrite (NO2-) release by PBMC. A marked correlation was observed between IgE secretion and nitrite release by PBMC stimulated with an optimal concentration of IL-4. The IL-4-dependent IgE production was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) in the presence of N omega-monomethyl-L-arginine (LNMMA), an inhibitor of the NO-synthase pathway; this inhibition was partially reverted with an excess of L-arginine. Addition to PBMC cultures of the chemical NO donor Sin-1, inactive alone, was found to result, depending on the concentration of IL-4, in either potentiation (suboptimal concentration of IL-4, 10 ng/ml) or inhibition (optimal concentration of IL-4, 50 ng/ml) of IgE synthesis. The potentiating effect of Sin-1 was dose dependent, with a maximal effect for 300 microM, whereas its metabolite Sin-1c was inactive. In both cases, Sin-1 markedly reduced the IL-4-induced release of the soluble form of the low affinity IgE receptor (sCD23). Together, these data strongly suggest that NO may display biphasic immunoregulatory properties on the IL-4-induced IgE production by PBMC.

Positive and negative signals transduced through surface immunoglobulins in human B cells

Cross-linking of surface IgM and surface IgD by anti-IgM antibodies and anti-IgD antibodies, respectively, showed different effects on the growth of normal human peripheral blood B cells and the human B lymphoma cell line, B104. Only cross-linking of surface IgM transduced signals that inhibited cell division of peripheral blood B cells and B104 cells at the G2/M interphase. In B104 cells, the inhibition of cell division was followed by rapid B104 cell death. The negative signals were inhibited by cyclosporin A and FK-506 at lower concentrations than those that inhibited proliferation of the B cells. Anti-IgM antibody-induced B104 cell death was dependent on Ca2+ influx and macromolecular synthesis. B104 cells treated with anti-IgM antibodies showed neither DNA fragmentation or morphology of apoptosis but showed DNA single-strand breaks and morphology of necrosis. Nicotinamide inhibited anti-IgM antibody-induced B104 cell death and the involvement of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribosyl)ation was suggested in the process of the B104 cell death. With regard to the intracellular mechanisms responsible for the different signals, however, no qualitative difference was detected in putative signal transducers, including tyrosine phosphorylated protein, phosphatidyl inositol turnover, Ca2+ influx, activation of protein kinase C, and messenger ribonucleic acid expression of c-fos and Egr-1 when surface IgM and surface IgD were crosslinked. Further investigations of the mechanisms responsible for the different signals transduced through surface IgM and surface IgD will provide better understanding of immunodeficiencies and autoimmune diseases.

Local disposition of a new xanthine oxidase/xanthine dehydrogenase inhibitor, BOF-4272, in rat liver

The local hepatic disposition of BOF-4272, a newly developed xanthine oxidase (XO)/xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) inhibitor, was evaluated in the rat perfusion system following pulse input of the drug into the portal vein. The elution time profiles from the liver into the hepatic vein were analyzed by dispersion models. The disposition of BOF-4272 through the rat liver was represented by a two-compartment dispersion model based on the Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC). The area under the concentration time curve (aucH) of BOF-4272 was proportional to the dosing amount, and the mean transit time was constant from 62.5 up to 500 micrograms/liver, which demonstrates that the local hepatic disposition of BOF-4272 is linear in this dosing range. The local disposition parameters were precisely estimated at the dosing amount of 250 micrograms/liver using several rats. These parameters in the dispersion model were correlated to the local moment characteristics. The hepatic recovery ratio (FH) was 22.8 +/- 3.2% and the mean transit time (tH) was 0.112 +/- 0.008 min, which show that the influx of BOF-4272 into the liver is efficiently large.

Mechanisms involved in the inhibition of growth of a human B lymphoma cell line, B104, by anti-MHC class II antibodies

The mechanisms involved in the inhibition of growth of a human B lymphoma cell line, B104, by anti-MHC class II antibodies (Ab) were compared with those in anti-IgM Ab-induced B104 growth inhibition. Two anti-MHC class II Ab, L227 and 2.06, inhibited the growth of B104 cells, although 2.06, but not L227, needed to be further cross-linked with a goat anti-mouse IgG Ab (GAM) to show the effect. L227 induced an increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) from the intracellular pool and little or no protein tyrosine phosphorylation, phosphatidyl inositol turnover, or expression of Egr-1 mRNA, whereas 2.06 plus GAM induced an increase in [Ca2+]i from both the intracellular and, in particular, the extracellular pools. The inhibition of B104 cell growth induced by anti-MHC class II Ab was Ca(2+)-independent and not inhibited by actinomycin D or cyclosporin A, and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M interphase was not observed. These features are very different from those observed in B104 cell death induced by anti-IgM Ab. Neither DNA fragmentation nor the morphology of apoptosis was observed. These findings demonstrate that cross-linking of MHC class II molecules transduced the negative signals through intracellular mechanisms different from those present in the cross-linking of surface IgM.

Moment analysis of hepatic local disposition of allopurinol and oxipurinol: metabolism kinetics from allopurinol to oxipurinol in the rat isolated perfused liver

Drug metabolism in the liver was examined by the rat isolated perfused liver using the single-pass bolus-input technique. The test compounds, allopurinol and its metabolite oxipurinol, were independently introduced into the liver from the portal vein, and the concentration profiles in the venous outflow were monitored and kinetically analysed by moment theory. The recovery ratios of allopurinol and oxipurinol after the individual administration of each drug were estimated to be 0.17 (+/- 0.08 s.d.) and 1.03 (+/- 0.02 s.d.), respectively. The outflow recovery ratio of oxipurinol as the metabolite after allopurinol administration was estimated to be 0.80 (+/- 0.07 s.d.). These results indicate that the combined outflow recovery of the precursor and the metabolite after allopurinol administration is almost 100% in the rat liver.

Alternative continuous infusion method for analysis of enterohepatic circulation and biliary excretion of cefixime in the rat

The enterohepatic circulation and biliary excretion of cefixime during continuous infusion were evaluated in rats based on the recirculatory concept. The Laplace-transformed equations for the enterohepatic circulation according to this concept were derived by means of the combination of transfer function. The transformed equations were simultaneously fitted to the time courses of plasma concentration in rats with laparotomy and with bile duct cannula by means of a nonlinear regression program, MULTI(FILT), into which the fast inverse Laplace transform was incorporated. The optimum model was selected on the basis of Akaike's information criterion (AIC). The time course of drug accumulation in the bile during infusion starts with a relatively gentle slope and finally approaches the asymptote with a constant slope. The kinetic significance of this asymptote was explained using the time courses of the cumulative amount excreted into the bile of rats with bile duct cannulation. The local moment characteristics for a single pass through enterohepatic circulation were further calculated from the time courses of both the plasma concentration and the excreted amount into the bile. The recovery ratio (Fc) and the mean circulatory time (tc) through a single pass of enterohepatic circulation were estimated to be 31.1% and 0.925 h, respectively. The recovery ratio (Fa) and the mean transit time (ta) for the complicated process from the access to the bile duct into the systemic circulation such as transport through the bile duct, absorption from the intestinal tract, and transit through the portal system were 76.4% and 0.0231 h, respectively. The recovery ratio (Fb) and the mean transit time (tb) for the disposition process through the systemic circulation into the bile were 40.7% and 0.902 h, respectively.

Opposite effects of the overexpression of protein kinase C gamma and delta on the growth properties of human glioma cell line U251 MG

In order to address the question of whether protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in the growth regulation of human glioma cells, we introduced PKC cDNA expression vectors into a human glioma cell line, U-251 MG, and established sets of stable cell clones that overexpress PKC gamma or delta. Cell clones obtained by the transfection of PKC gamma cDNA express 3.6 to 5 times more PKC activity than parental cells that express predominantly endogenous PKC alpha. These PKC gamma overexpressing cell clones show an increased rate of growth in monolayer culture, increased colony-forming efficiency on soft agarose, and increased DNA synthesis in response to epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. Cell clones obtained by transfection with PKC delta cDNA express 2 to 10 times more PKC than that produced endogenously. PKC delta overexpressing cells show a decreased rate of growth and decreased colony-forming efficiency. However, these PKC delta cell clones show no significant changes in responsiveness to the growth factors described above. These results clearly indicate that different PKC family members have distinct regulatory functions in cell growth and that PKC is involved in several aspects of the growth regulation of human glioma cells.

[Widespread argentophilic structures in progressive supranuclear palsy--an autopsy case report]

We report an autopsy case of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) with a five-year clinical course. A 67-year-old man was suffering from a gait disturbance and mental deterioration. Neurological examination at the age of 71 revealed pseudobulbar palsy, horizontal ophthalmoplegia, and truncal dystonia, and a diagnosis of PSP was made. Mental deterioration including forgetfulness and character change was also noted, and the patient sometimes exhibited intermittent stuporous states. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance images revealed moderate brain atrophy, predominantly in the frontal lobes. The patient died of bronchopneumonia at the age of 71. Neuropathological examination confirmed typical pathological changes of PSP, such as neuronal loss, neurofibrillary tangles, and fibrillary gliosis in the subcortical nuclei. Gallyas-Braak silver impregnation revealed neurofibrillary tangles, silver-positive glia and thread-like structures in degenerating subcortical nuclei. In addition to these classical lesions, the argentophilic structures were detected in the cerebral cortex, cortical white matter and cerebellar white matter. In the cerebral cortex, they were abundant mostly in the precentral gyrus and subcortical white matter. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that most silver-positive structures were also tau 2 antibody-positive. Thus, these argentophilic structures seemed to be closely related to abnormal tau protein. Their distribution in this case implies that lesions related to abnormal tau protein may occur more extensively in the brains of PSP than expected.

A new analysis method for disposition kinetics of enterohepatic circulation of diclofenac in rats

The pharmacokinetics of diclofenac, which is definitely subject to enterohepatic circulation in rats, was evaluated. The pharmacokinetic model for enterohepatic circulation was constructed in the Laplace-transformed domain by means of the transfer function method of the signal flow. The transformed equations were simultaneously fitted to the time courses of plasma concentration averaged over two groups of rats [i.e. one with an intact enterohepatic circulation and the other without an enterohepatic circulation by means of the bile duct cannula (double-lines fitting)]. The transformed equations were also fitted to each plasma time course in the individual rat (single-line fitting). It was demonstrated that the estimated pharmacokinetic parameters by the single-line fitting almost coincided with those by the double-lines fitting. The local moments for a single pass through enterohepatic circulation were also calculated from the time courses of both the plasma concentration and the amount excreted into the bile. In the nonanesthetized group, the recirculation ratio (Fc) and the mean recirculation time (tc) of diclofenac were estimated to be 21.1% and 4.5 hr, respectively. The absorption ratio (Fa) and the mean absorption time (ta) from the intestinal tract were 52.2% and 4.29 hr, respectively. The experiments using bile duct cannulation revealed that the total amounts excreted into the bile were 14.4% in the anesthetized group and 40.4% in the nonanesthetized group of rats, and that diclofenac was excreted 95% as the glucuronide form and 5% as the intact form in both groups.