Studies on the different metabolic pathways of antipyrine in rats: influence of phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene treatment

Correlation between in vivo antipyrine metabolite formation and theophylline metabolism in rats

Two model substrates for oxidative hepatic enzyme activity, viz. antipyrine (A) and theophylline (T), were given simultaneously to rats by iv administration. Blood concentrations of A and T were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. Urinary excretions of A, T, and the major metabolites arising from A-4-hydroxyantipyrine (OHA), norantipyrine (NORA), 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (HMA), and 4,4'-dihydroxyantipyrine (DOHA)-and from T-1-methyluric acid (1-MU) and 1,3-dimethyluric acid (1,3-DMU)-were also determined by HPLC. It was found that the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained after the simultaneous administration of A and T at relatively low dose levels (A, 5.0 mg; and T, 1.3 mg) were not different from those obtained after the separate administration of A or T at the same dose level. In order to investigate whether the metabolic pathways of A and T are mediated by the same or closely related forms of the cytochrome P-450 system, metabolic clearances of A (CLA,M) and T (CLT,M) and the clearances for production of their various metabolites, obtained in untreated rats and in rats pretreated with 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) or with MC followed by 9-hydroxyellipticine (E), were correlated. These two compounds are a selective cytochrome P-448 inducer and inhibitor, respectively. Strong correlations were found between CLT,M and the clearances for production of OHA, NORA, and DOHA but not HMA. The best correlation, however, was observed between CLT,M and CLOHA, not only when all data points were taken into account (r = 0.99), but also in separate pretreatment groups (r ranging from 0.87 to 0.92). Moreover, the slopes of these correlation lines varied only slightly among groups, while the intercepts were not significantly different from zero. In the separate pretreatment groups, the correlation coefficients for the correlations between CLT,M and the clearance for production of the other metabolites of A were considerably lower, while the slopes of the correlation lines varied substantially. Clearances for production of the metabolites of T were strongly correlated with each other (r = 0.99) and with CLOHA (r = 0.95). It can be concluded that theophylline metabolism and formation of OHA are mediated by the same or very similar forms of cytochrome P-450, whereas formation of the other major metabolites of A is not or only partly. The study of the various pathways of metabolism after simultaneous administration of drugs is a powerful tool in the study of correlations in drug metabolism in vivo.

Chemical and biological evaluation of some new antipyrine derivatives with particular properties

Starting from 4-amino-antipyrine, six new compounds were synthesized and characterized. The new compounds contain moieties with particular properties, such are ionophore (benzo-15-crown-5), fluorescent (nitrobenzofurazan), stable free radical (nitroxide), or other types of biological active residues, like nitroderivatives, antipyrine or isoniazid residues. They were fully characterized by appropriate means ((1)H and (13)C NMR, IR, UV-Vis, fluorescence, EPR, elemental analysis) and some of their biological properties were evaluated. Hydrophobicity (R(M0), log P), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and antimicrobial properties are also presented and discussed.

Separation and identification of phase I and phase II [14C]antipyrine metabolites in rat and dog urine

A simple and accurate HPLC procedure was developed to quantify, in a single run, all phase I and phase II [14C]antipyrine metabolites that occur in rat and dog urine. All metabolites were subjected to thermospray-LC-MS and EI-MS in order to establish their structure. The rat metabolizes antipyrine to eight major metabolites, six of which are conjugated; 1.4% of the dose was excreted unchanged, 18.9% in a free form, 30.6% as sulfates and 21.1% as glucuronides. The dog metabolizes antipyrine to four metabolites, all as sulfate (61.0% of the dose) or glucuronide conjugates (16.2% of the dose).

Assessment of hepatic insufficiency model in the rabbit using carbon tetrachloride intoxication

The objective of the present study was to compare two doses (0.035 and 0.1 mL/kg) of carbon tetrachloride given intragastrically or intraperitoneally to rabbits during 8 weeks to induce a model of liver insufficiency. All animals developed pericentrolobular fibrosis. The intensity of the fibrosis was proportional to the dose. An increase in the plasma enzymatic activities (ALAT, ASAT, gamma GT) was related to the dose. Plasma proteins and creatinine levels remained unaltered during the experiment. Hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 was reduced in treated animals in relation to the dose, as was glutathione-S-transferase enzymatic activity, whereas no change was observed in UDP glucuronyltransferase activity. When antipyrine was administered to the intragastric group, a reduction of total body clearances and an increase in half-lives and areas under the curve were observed in relation to a reduction of oxidation capacities. After intraperitoneal intoxication, only the total body clearance with a 0.1 mL/kg dose increased significantly. With the exception of the intragastric dose of 0.035 mL/kg, the pharmacokinetics of indocyanine green showed a decrease in total body clearances and an increase in areas under the curve. Distribution volumes decreased in treated animals whereas half-lives remained constant. After an intragastric dose of 0.035 mL/kg, only an increase in half-life and a decrease in total body clearance were observed. All these results indicate that rabbits chronically intoxicated with CCl4 may be an adequate model for studying the influence of hepatic insufficiency on pharmacokinetic disposition.

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetic interaction between antipyrine and paracetamol in vivo and in vitro when administered as a cocktail in pig

1. The pharmacokinetic interactions between paracetamol (PA) and antipyrine (AP) were studied in pigs in order to investigate the usefulness of this combination for the simultaneous assessment of oxidative and conjugative metabolism. 2. When both drugs were given at a dose of 5 mg/kg, AP plasma clearance was reduced from 2.22 to 0.96 lh-1 kg-1. PA clearance was not changed in comparison with control values. 3. At a dose of 2 mg/kg no pharmacokinetic interaction between the two drugs was observed. 4. The only oxidative AP metabolite found in urine was 4-hydroxyantipyrine (4-OHA). It accounted for 80% of the dose and, like PA, it was completely glucuronidated. 5. The glucuronidation of PA has been studied in vitro in pig liver microsomes. The apparent Km value for PA glucuronidation was 40 mM with a Vmax = 54 nmol min-1 mg protein-1. To determine if 4-OHA and PA competed for the same UDP-glucuronosyl-transferase, the effect of 4-OHA and AP on PA glucuronidation was studied. It appeared that 4-OHA was a competitive inhibitor with a Ki app = 0.07 microM, whereas AP had no effect. 5. Results suggest a dose-dependent interaction between AP and PA, which may be due to competition at the level of glucuronidation. Therefore, the usefulness of AP and PA in vivo in a cocktail for metabolism studies is limited.

Dual effects of a novel thienodiazepine platelet-activating factor antagonist, on drug-oxidizing enzymes in beagle dog

1. We have examined the effects of (S)-(+)-6-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-cyclopropanecarbonyl-8, 11-dimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-8H-pyrido[4',3':4,5]thieno[3, 2-f][1, 2, 4]triazolo[4, 3-a][1, 4]diazepine (E-6123), a novel thienodiazepine platelet-activating factor antagonist, on drug-oxidizing capacity in beagle dog, using antipyrine (AP) and trimethadione (TMO) as two model substrates. 2. The plasma half-life (t1/2) and area under the curve (AUC) of AP (0.5 mg/kg, i.v. injection) increased in a dose-dependent manner after a single oral dose of E-6123 (0.2, 1 or 10 mg/kg), whereas the total body clearance (Cl) of AP was decreased, and the apparent volume of distribution (Vd) was unchanged. 3. The pharmacokinetic parameters (t1/2, Cl and AUC) of the metabolism of TMO (4 mg/kg, i.v.) after repeated oral administration of E-6123 (10 mg/kg for 7 days) were not significantly changed in comparison with findings in control dog. The ratio of dimethadione (DMO), being the only TMO metabolite, to TMO in plasma after i.v. administration of TMO in E-6123-treated dog was increased only 5 and 15 min after the final dose, but was not changed at other sampling times (0.5, 1, 2 4, 6, 8 and 12 h). 4. The content of b5, the activity of p-nitroanisole O-demethylase and benzphetamine N-demethylase were significantly increased, compared with controls, by repeated E-6123 treatment. However, aniline hydroxylase activity was not significantly changed. 5. Content of P450 2B was significantly increased in E-6123 treated dog, while that of 3A was not.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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.

The relationship between phenazone (antipyrine) metabolite formation and theophylline metabolism in healthy and frail elderly women

The influence of aging on the metabolism of phenazone (antipyrine), and the relationship between the formation of 3 phenazone metabolites and the metabolic clearance of theophylline in healthy and frail elderly women, were examined. Whereas the elimination half-life did not change, clearance of phenazone decreased by about 50% with age in healthy women receiving phenazone without theophylline. However, the summation of the urinary recovery of phenazone and the measured metabolites, expressed as percentage of the phenazone dose, was lower in the healthy elderly (37 +/- 9% vs 74 +/- 15%). In both healthy and frail females the clearance of formation of 4-hydroxy-phenazone and the metabolic clearance of theophylline correlated strongly (r = 0.93 and 0.90, respectively). In non-healthy elderly females, strong correlations were also observed between the other metabolic pathways of phenazone and the metabolic clearance of theophylline. Coadministration of theophylline in the elderly increased the percentage of the phenazone dose excreted as the measured metabolites. A considerably higher interindividual variability in the disposition of phenazone and theophylline was observed in the frail elderly women. This high degree of variability in drug metabolism may be one of the explanations for the problems often occurring after drug prescription in the elderly.

Effects of capsaicin on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine, theophylline and quinine in rats

Capsaicin is the active principal of capsicum fruits, such as hot peppers. The influence of 1-week pretreatment of capsaicin (25 mg kg-1) on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine, theophylline and quinine was investigated in rats. The drugs were given as an intravenous bolus dose. The control rats received the vehicle solvent (polyethylene glycol) only. Clearance of antipyrine in the capsaicin-pretreated rats was significantly lower than that observed in the control rats (0.241 +/- 0.029 vs 0.344 +/- 0.034 L h-1 kg-1, P < 0.05). This is consistent with a prolongation in the elimination half-life of antipyrine in animals pretreated with capsaicin (2.06 +/- 0.30 vs 1.61 +/- 0.27 h), as the volume of distribution was not significantly changed. In contrast, capsaicin pretreatment had no significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline and quinine.

Effect of gonadal hormones on the plasma clearance and metabolite formation of antipyrine in the dwarf goat

The effect of gonadal hormones on the plasma elimination and urinary metabolite profile of antipyrine was studied in dwarf goats. Female goats were treated with testosterone and male goats were treated with 17 beta-oestradiol. Castrated males were treated with either testosterone or 17 beta-oestradiol. Antipyrine (25 mg/kg, i.v.) was given both before and after the hormonal treatments. The effects of the hormonal status on the plasma elimination of the parent compound were not consistent. This was possibly due to the fact that formation of the main metabolite of antipyrine in the goat, 4-hydroxy antipyrine (OHA), was not affected by sex or hormonal treatment. On the other hand, there were clear effects of hormonal status on urinary excretion of the three other metabolites. In females and castrated males testosterone suppressed the formation of norantipyrine (NORA), 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (HMA) and 4,4'-dihydroxyantipyrine (DOHA). Intact males produced smaller amounts of these metabolites than females. It is concluded that distinct xenobiotic metabolizing pathways exist in the dwarf goat, which are influenced in their activity by gonadal hormones. This confirms previous findings in rats and mice. The possibility that sex hormones influence drug metabolism in food-producing animals could have consequences for veterinary therapeutics and public health. This study also demonstrates that, when using the antipyrine test for the assessment of hepatic drug metabolism, it is very important to include the determination of metabolites.

Non-induction of extrahepatic antipyrine and metronidazole metabolism evaluated from partially hepatectomized rats

1. The effect of beta-naphthoflavone (BNF), given i.p. (n = 9) and orally (n = 9), on the metabolism of antipyrine and metronidazole was investigated in rats. 2. The clearances of antipyrine and metronidazole were determined on a single saliva sample. The rates of formation of antipyrine and metronidazole metabolites were determined from a 20 h urine sample and saliva clearance. 3. Administration of beta-naphthoflavone i.p. was significantly more effective than oral dosage on the induction of antipyrine and metronidazole metabolism (p < 0.05). 4. The capacity of extrahepatic tissues to metabolize antipyrine and metronidazole was quantitatively assessed in rats with and without pretreatment with beta-naphthoflavone immediately after sham operation or 70% partial hepatectomy (n = 40). 5. Antipyrine and metronidazole clearances correlated with liver weight in induced and non-induced rats. Linear regression of antipyrine and metronidazole clearances did show a non-significant Y-intercept (p > 0.05), indicating a negligible extrahepatic metabolism in both induced and in non-induced rats. 6. From a quantitative point of view this study indicates that induction of extrahepatic cytochrome P450 metabolism of antipyrine and metronidazole is negligible.

Effect of malaria infection and endotoxin-induced fever on the metabolism of antipyrine and metronidazole in the rat

Antipyrine and metronidazole were administered as a cocktail to young (4 weeks old) male Wistar rats (N = 12 for each treatment) to investigate the effect of malaria infection due to the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei and Escherichia coli endotoxin-induced fever on the metabolism of the two compounds in vivo. Control rats received normal saline. Antipyrine and metronidazole clearances were estimated from a single saliva sample while the formation clearances of their metabolites (in malaria-infected and control rats) were estimated from the product of clearance of parent drug and the fraction of the administered dose excreted as metabolites in urine in 24 hr. Rats treated with endotoxin produced no urine during this period. Malaria infection had no effect on clearance of antipyrine or on formation clearance of any of its metabolites. However, the clearance of metronidazole was reduced by approximately 20% compared with controls as a result of decreased formation of hydroxymetronidazole. Fever decreased clearance of both antipyrine and metronidazole by approximately 36% and 23%, respectively. These results demonstrate that both malaria infection and fever can influence P450-dependent drug metabolism and the effects seen appear to be isozyme-selective.

Metabolism of antipyrine and sulphadimidine in dwarf goats: effects of the enzyme-inducing agents phenobarbital, troleandomycin and rifampicin

1. Antipyrine (AP) and sulphadimidine (SDD) plasma elimination and metabolite formation were studied in dwarf goats before and after treatment with phenobarbital (PB), triacetyloleandomycin (TAO), and rifampicin (RIF). 2. PB treatment significantly increased AP plasma clearance in both male and female goats. With SDD, only male goats were studied, which showed a significant increase of SDD plasma clearance following PB treatment. 3. After PB treatment, partial clearance values of four AP metabolites, 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (HMA), norantipyrine (NORA), 4-hydroxyantipyrine (OHA) and 4,4'-dihydroxyantipyrine (DOHA), were significantly increased. This induction effect was different for the individual metabolites and also showed sex-dependency. 4. In PB-induced male goats the formation of the hydroxylated SDD metabolites, 6-hydroxymethyl-SDD and 5-hydroxy-SDD, was significantly increased. 5. After TAO treatment, female goats showed a slightly reduced AP plasma clearance and a decreased partial clearance of two AP metabolites, HMA and DOHA. There was no effect on SDD plasma elimination or metabolite excretion. 6. In male goats, RIF had no effect on plasma elimination of AP and SDD. With SDD, it decreased the urinary excretion of the unchanged drug and its N4-acetylated metabolite. 7. Induction/inhibition studies of drug metabolism in food-producing animal species are desirable to gain more insight into the regulation of enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics.

The pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and three of its metabolites in the rabbit: intravenous administration of pure metabolites

Antipyrine (AP) is a commonly used probe of oxidative metabolism. Indirect evidence demonstrates formation rate limited disposition of its metabolites. Kinetic studies using antipyrine and its major metabolites 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (HMA), norantipyrine (NORA), and 4-hydroxyantipyrine (OHA) were completed to investigate the metabolic fate of preformed antipyrine metabolite and to demonstrate directly formation rate-limited metabolite disposition in vivo. Bolus injections of antipyrine and preformed metabolites (40-50 mg/kg) were administered to male, New Zealand white rabbits. Plasma and urine were analyzed using HPLC. These studies demonstrate that HMA, NORA, and OHA are formation rate limited in the rabbit. NORA appears to undergo further extensive oxidative and conjugative metabolism. Unknown additional peaks were detected in urine after NORA dosing but not after HMA or OHA administration. Mass spectroscopy of the unknown HPLC eluents identified potential structures of these NORA metabolites.

Species- and sex-related differences in the plasma clearance and metabolite formation of antipyrine. A comparative study in four animal species: cattle, goat, rat and rabbit

1. The plasma disposition of antipyrine, and its urinary metabolite pattern, were studied in both sexes of four animal species: rat, dwarf goat, rabbit and cattle. 2. No sex differences in plasma elimination of antipyrine were found in rabbit and goat; however, in rat and cattle the effect of sex was marked. As expected, male rat showed a higher plasma clearance value than female. In contrast bulls showed a significantly lower clearance value than cows. 3. Metabolite patterns varied widely from one species to another. The major urinary metabolite in rabbit and the two ruminant species was 4-hydroxy-antipyrine (OHA), whereas in rat 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (HMA) was quantitatively the most important metabolite. 4. HMA was excreted in the 24 h urine in larger amounts by male rats than by females. Metabolism of antipyrine to HMA was also sexually different in the dwarf goat, but in this species females were more active than males. The effect of sex on the metabolite pattern in cattle was marked. 5. It is concluded that in ruminants there may be xenobiotic metabolic pathways which are under hormonal control, just as there are in rats and mice. If hormones influence drug metabolism in food-producing animals, residue levels of xenobiotics or their metabolites in food from animal origin may differ with the sex of the animal, or may be altered after treatment with anabolic hormones.

Influence of liver damage on antipyrine metabolite formation in rats

1. The effects of three types of liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), D-galactosamine (Ga1N) and alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) on antipyrine (AP) metabolism was studied in rats. 2. The serum half-life (t1/2) of AP (50 mg/kg, i.p.) was increased and total body clearance (CL) decreased in all three types of liver damage; the apparent volume of distribution (Vd) was relatively unchanged. 3. Rates of formation of AP metabolites (CLm) were lower than those in the control group in all three types of liver damage. 4. Rates of urinary excretion (% dose) of AP metabolites, 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (HMA) and 3-hydroxymethyl-3-norantipyrine (NORA) were decreased in all three types of liver damage. However, the rate for 4-hydroxyantipyrine (OHA) was lower only in the Ga1N-treated rats. 5. The percentage conjugation of HMA was higher in the ANIT-treated rats than in the control group, and percentage conjugation of NOR was lower only in the Ga1N-treated rats. 6. These results indicate that the pathways of oxidation and conjugation of AP metabolism are not affected to the same extents by different types of liver damage.

The effect of malaria infection on antipyrine metabolite formation in the rat

We have shown that malaria infection can impair selectively the formation of antipyrine metabolites in the rat. During malaria, a significant increased urinary levels of unchanged antipyrine was observed (control: 1.7 +/- 0.4 vs test: 8.1 +/- 1.1% of dose, P less than 0.001). This was associated with significantly decreased excretion of 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (control: 24.5 +/- 1.2 vs test: 21.4 +/- 0.7%, P less than 0.001) and 4-hydroxyantipyrine (control: 20.1 +/- 0.9 vs test: 15.5 +/- 1.3%, P less than 0.001) but not norantipyrine compared to control. Following treatment of the malaria infection with halofantrine, only the formation of 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (control: 25.2 +/- 0.9 vs test: 24.1 +/- 0.6%, P less than 0.05) is impaired. The implications of these findings in relation to metabolism of other antimalarial drugs during malaria remains to be elucidated. Further work is needed to determine the changes in the pharmacokinetics of AP and its metabolites before, during and after MI in the rat in order to give a better insight into the effect of MI on hepatic drug metabolism.

Cytochrome P-450 isozyme pattern is related to individual susceptibility to diethylnitrosamine-induced liver cancer in rats

Differences in susceptibility to chemical carcinogenesis between rodent strains and species have been linked to variations in genetically-determined mixed function oxidase activities. In order to verify whether such variations also determine the susceptibility of individual animals of the same strain to a chemical carcinogen, outbred male Wistar rats were administered diethylnitrosamine (DEN) (1, 2, or 3 mg/kg) five times a week for 20 weeks. The relationship was examined between the outcome (i.e., presence or absence of liver tumors, and latency period) and the hepatic activities of mixed function oxidases and conjugating enzymes, as well as of O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase, measured before the carcinogen treatment. In addition, the metabolic profiles of two model drugs, antipyrine and disopyramide, in the urine were analyzed and correlated with the carcinogen susceptibility. The length of the latency period of hepatocellular tumors in individual rats was negatively related to the activities of hepatic dimethylnitrosamine N-demethylase, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and epoxide hydrolase and positively related to the amount of microsomal protein. Consistent relationships between the other 10 measured parameters and the susceptibility to DEN-induced carcinogenesis were not detected. Long-term treatment with DEN slightly decreased the proportion of metabolism of antipyrine into norantipyrine, and increased the share of 4-hydroxyantipyrine; a decrease in the metabolism of disopyramide to N-deisopropyldisopyramide was also detected. It is concluded that the pattern of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes is related to differences in individual susceptibility to nitrosamine-induced carcinogenesis. The relationship was most marked at low dose levels, which are the levels at which nitrosamine exposures of humans are known to occur.

Effect of deltamethrin on antipyrine pharmacokinetics and metabolism in rat

The effect of deltamethrin pretreatment on the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of antipyrine was studied in male rats. The total plasma clearance of antipyrine was significantly decreased by deltamethrin pretreatment (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg daily for 6 days prior to antipyrine administration), while the elimination half-life at beta phase, the area under the concentration-time curve and the mean residence time of antipyrine were significantly increased. The magnitude of the observed changes was dose dependent. The urinary excretion of norantipyrine, 4-hydroxyantipyrine and 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine was decreased by 39%, 32% and 26%, respectively (p less than 0.001) in the presence of deltamethrin. In addition, the rate constants for formation of each of these metabolites were significantly decreased by an average of approximately 71%. These results suggest that deltamethrin is capable of inhibiting oxidative metabolism, a finding which could be of clinical and toxicological significance.

Metronidazole and antipyrine metabolism in the rat: clearance determination from one saliva sample

1. The applicability of a simple, non-invasive method for assessment of metronidazole and antipyrine metabolism in rats in vivo was investigated. 2. In 48 sample pairs of blood and pilocarpine-stimulated saliva from six rats the concentration of metronidazole was almost identical (r = 0.97). 3. In 26 rats the clearance could be determined from one sample without loss of precision and accuracy compared with conventional determinations (r = 0.99). If urine was collected for 24 h the fractional clearance representing each elimination pathway could be determined. 4. Pretreatment with phenobarbitone increased the fractional clearance of metronidazole by oxidation and glucuronidation 3.8-fold and 1.6-fold, respectively, whereas 3-methylcholanthrene pretreatment increased the rate of oxidation 10-fold and decreased the rate of glucuronidation 0.5-fold. 5. The clearance and fractional clearances of metronidazole and antipyrine administered in a mixture could be determined from the same saliva sample and urine collected for 24 h without drug-drug interactions. 6. Phenobarbitone pretreatment increased the formation rate of all metabolites of metronidazole and antipyrine administered in a mixture, whereas beta-naphthoflavone increased the formation rates of only the oxidative metronidazole metabolites, norantipyrine and 4-hydroxyantipyrine, but not metronidazole glucuronide or 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine. 7. A mixture of metronidazole and antipyrine and non-invasive sampling are recommendable for the study of the differential metabolism of foreign compounds in rats in vivo.

Species variation in the response of the cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase system to inducers and inhibitors

1. In the safety evaluation of drugs and other chemicals it is important to evaluate their possible inducing and inhibitory effects on the enzymes of drug metabolism. 2. While many similarities exist between species in their response to inducers and inhibitors, there are also important differences. Possible mechanisms of such variation are considered, with particular reference to the cytochrome P-450 system. 3. Differences in inhibition may be due to differences in inhibitory site of the enzyme involved, which is not always the active site of the enzyme, in competing pathways or in the pharmacokinetics of the inhibitor. 4. Differences in induction could be due to differences in the nature of the induction mechanism, in the isoenzyme induced, in tissue- or age-dependent regulation, in competing pathways for the substrate or its products, or in the pharmacokinetics of the inducing agent. 5. Examples of each of these possible differences are considered, often from our own work on the P450 IA subfamily, and results in animals are compared with those in humans, where possible. 6. At present, the differences between species in their response to inducers and inhibitors make extrapolation to humans from the results of animal studies difficult, so that ultimately such effects should be studied in the species of interest, humans.

Metronidazole and antipyrine as probes for the study of foreign compound metabolism

The aim of the present work was to develop a tool for the study of the enzyme activities relevant for the biotransformation of foreign compounds, their elimination and/or activation to toxic substances. The activity of an enzyme may be assessed by the rate of metabolism of a preferably specific probe or model compound. The cytochrome P450'ies, the key enzymes for the elimination and/or activation of most foreign compounds, exist in multiple forms with variable substrate specificity and regulation. Some cytochrome P450'ies are under genetic control, whereas the activity of others is mainly regulated by the influence from factors in the environment. Only some of the cytochrome P450'ies are relevant for the formation of harmful metabolites. Thus, the activity of as many cytochrome P450 forms as possible should be assessable, preferably simultaneously. The present work evaluated metronidazole in a cocktail with antipyrine as a tool for the study of the regulation of foreign compound metabolism in the liver. The cytochrome P450 catalyzed metabolism of metronidazole and antipyrine was studied in humans and in isolated rat hepatocytes. In humans the influence of dose, route of administration, enzyme induction and inhibition and liver disease was investigated. Rats of either sex were studied with and without pretreatment with specific enzyme inducers and incubations included specific enzyme inhibitors. Evidence was provided that the oxidative formation of the five major metabolites, two from metronidazole and three from antipyrine, depends on different cytochrome P450'ies. In humans it was demonstrated that the clearance of metronidazole and antipyrine could be determined from the same saliva sample collected 16-24 hours after their oral administration and so could the clearance for formation of each metabolite if urine was collected for 48 hours. Thus, with the cocktail of metronidazole and antipyrine and simple non-invasive sampling the activity of five different cytochrome P450'ies can be assessed in vivo. In addition, metronidazole may also be used for assessment of the glucuronidation capacity although this is a minor pathway in man. Because the variation within subjects is much less than between them, the cocktail test is particularly suited for paired designs with measurements before and after an environmental change and the subjects serving as their own control. The metronidazole/antipyrine cocktail may have many applications in the study of the regulation of foreign compound metabolism in man and in animals, in vivo and in vitro.

Lack of effect of halofantrine on hepatic drug metabolism in the rat in vivo and in vitro

The effect of the antimalarial drug halofantrine (Hf) on hepatic drug metabolism in the rat has been studied in vivo and in vitro using different model drug substrates. Hf in vitro produced no significant effect on the values of Km and Vmax for aminopyrine N-demethylation or 7-ethoxycoumarin O-dealkylation in microsomes incubated with Hf (0.01-0.1 mM) or on the rate of N-demethylation of aminopyrine or O-dealkylation of Ec in microsomes produced from rats dosed chronically with Hf (200 mg/kg) for 4 days. The disposition of antipyrine (Ap) was investigated in the isolated perfused rat liver preparation (IPRL). Following the administration of bolus doses of Hf (0.5, 2.5 and 5.0 mg) no significant changes were observed in the half-life (t1/2), clearance (Cl) or apparent volume of distribution (Vd) for Ap compared with controls. Pentobarbitone induced sleeping time was also assessed in mice. No significant difference was determined in time to recovery of the righting reflex for mice receiving Hf as single oral doses or chronically over 4 days when compared with appropriate controls. The potential for selective isoenzyme effects was studied in vivo. The three principal urinary metabolites of Ap, norantipyrine (Np), 3-OH and 4-OH Ap were measured in rat urine, with no significant change in urinary recovery of Ap or any of the metabolites in the presence of Hf (1.25 mg/kg i.p.) compared with controls. These results suggest that Hf is not, in contrast to many commonly used quinoline antimalarials, a potent or specific inhibitor of drug metabolism in vitro or in vivo.

Metabolism of metronidazole and antipyrine in hepatocytes isolated from mouse and rat

1. In order to study species-related differences and select a model for the human metabolism of metronidazole and antipyrine, the Michaëlis-Menten kinetics of metabolite formation from the two compounds were investigated in freshly isolated mouse and rat hepatocytes. 2. The average Km values for the formation of the major metronidazole metabolites ranged from 0.6 to 3 mM. The intrinsic clearance values (Vmax/Km) of metronidazole to the acetic acid, hydroxy and glucuronide metabolites were 58 (36-125) and 21 (12-28; P less than 0.05), 156 (63-263) and 36 (19-56; P less than 0.05), and 269 (102-452) and 500 (389-1616; P less than 0.05) nl/min per 10(6) hepatocytes, for mouse and rat, respectively (median with range, n = 6). 3. The average Km values for the formation of antipyrine metabolites ranged from 2 to 10 mM. The intrinsic clearance values for production of 3-hydroxymethyl-, nor- and 4-hydroxyantipyrine were 232 (43-519) and 487 (296-793; P less than 0.05), 594 (168-813) and 93 (55-180; P less than 0.05), and 118 (23-505) and 239 (134-501; P greater than 0.05) nl/min per 10(6) hepatocytes, for mouse and rat, respectively (median with range, n = 6). 4. The results demonstrate that metronidazole and antipyrine are metabolized with quantitative, but not qualitative, differences in isolated hepatocytes from mice and rats. Neither species provided an ideal model for the human metabolism of the two compounds.

Metabolism of antipyrine and m-xylene in rats after prolonged pretreatment with xylene alone or xylene with ethanol, phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene

1. The metabolic disposition of antipyrine (AP) and m-xylene (XYL) has been studied in rats pretreated for a prolonged period with XYL, dosed alone or in combination with ethanol, phenobarbital (PB), or 3-methylcholanthrene (MC). 2. XYL inhalation exposure at 300 ppm in air (7 h/day, 4 days/week, for 1 or 4 weeks) did not alter the total 24-h recovery of AP and its major metabolites in urine, but the excretion profile changed compared with controls: 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (3-HMA) increased (less than or equal to 14%, P less than 0.001), norantipyrine (NORA) (less than or equal to 23%, P less than 0.01) and AP (less than or equal to 53%, P less than 0.01) decreased. 4-Hydroxyantipyrine (4-OHA) was unchanged. 3. Oral dosage of XYL at 800 mg/kg per day (5 days/week, for 12 days) altered the metabolic disposition of AP similarly to inhalation. 4. XYL + ethanol did not alter the xylene-type effect on AP metabolism. This was at variance with the changes following XYL + PB and, to a greater extent, XYL + MC pretreatments: 4-OHA increased (53-74%, P less than 0.01), 3-HMA (11-42%, P less than 0.05) and AP (greater than or equal to 50%, P less than 0.05) decreased. The effect on NORA was less clear. 5. XYL pretreatment accelerated metabolic disposition of its major urinary metabolite, methylhippuric acid (MHA) and formation of thioethers. 6. Thioether excretion in 24 h urine was enhanced about 10-fold after XYL inhalation and 20-fold after oral administration. Only XYL + PB treatment enhanced further the excretion of xylene-derived thioethers (P less than 0.05). 7. Drug-metabolizing activity (phase I and II reactions) in liver, lung and kidney showed that the treatments resulted in marked and differential biochemical alterations. 8. In conclusion, m-xylene enhanced the rate of its own metabolism and induced differential changes on urinary AP metabolite profile depending on the pretreatment.

The effect of age on antipyrine metabolism by liver microsomes isolated from phenobarbital-treated rats

A study was performed to test the hypothesis that ageing influences the activities of diverse forms or populations of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes in different ways. The formation of antipyrine metabolites in induced rats is mediated by such different forms or populations of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes. To test the hypothesis, the formation rates of antipyrine metabolites by liver microsomes isolated from phenobarbital-treated rats of different ages was determined. After phenobarbital induction in vitro, the maximal velocity for norantipyrine formation decreased from 12 to 24 months and then showed a tendency to increase with age. Hydroxymethylantipyrine formation did not change with age. 4-Hydroxyantipyrine increased between 3 and 12 months and remained constant afterwards. This is in agreement with data obtained in vivo in uninduced male BN/BiRij rats. It can be concluded that age does indeed influence the activities of different forms or populations of the cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes in different ways. Consequently, determining the overall clearance of antipyrine, which is metabolized by several isoenzymes, especially in the induced situation, is not to be recommended for measuring the activity of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes as a function of age.

Metabolism of metronidazole and antipyrine in isolated rat hepatocytes. Influence of sex and enzyme induction and inhibition

The metabolism of metronidazole and antipyrine was investigated in freshly isolated hepatocytes from 7 male and 6 female control Wistar rats, 8 males and 5 females pretreated with phenobarbital (PB) and 3 males pretreated with 3-methylcholanthrene (MC). Pretreatment with PB increased the intrinsic clearance (CLi = Vmax/Km) of metronidazole to its acetic acid (MAA) and hydroxy metabolite (HM) 7- and 2.8-fold in the males and 3.2- and 3.0-fold in the females, whereas MC treatment increased the values 9- and 10-fold, respectively (P less than 0.05). The CLi of metronidazole to HM and its glucuronide conjugate was higher in the control and PB treated male than in the corresponding female groups, whereas the rank order was reversed for sulphate formation (P less than 0.05). SKF 525A was a more potent inhibitor of MAA formation than of HM formation, except in the PB treated male group. Pretreatment with MC increased the inhibitory potency of alpha-naphthoflavone and antipyrine toward MAA and HM formation. In male rats PB treatment increased the CLi of antipyrine to 3-hydroxymethyl-(HMAP), nor-(NORAP) and 4-hydroxyantipyrine (OHAP) 2.5-, 2.1- and 4.5-fold, respectively (P less than 0.05). Pretreatment with MC in male and with PB in female rats had no significant effect on antipyrine metabolism. SKF 525A was a more potent inhibitor of HMAP and OHAP formation than of NORAP formation. Treatment with MC increased the inhibitory potency of alpha-naphthoflavone toward the formation of all antipyrine metabolites. Metronidazole increased the formation rate of HMAP, but inhibited the formation of NORAP and OHAP, particularly the latter. The results suggest that the formation of MAA, HM, HMAP, NORAP and OHAP from metronidazole and antipyrine is catalyzed by different cytochrome P-450 isozymes, which may be supplemented or substituted by PB or MC induced species. The involved P-450 isozymes have more or less overlapping substrate and product specificity. Metronidazole appears to be a sensitive probe for detection and identification of PB and MC type induction.

The effect of moderately severe hemodilution with Fluosol-DA on cytochrome P-450 mediated antipyrine metabolism

Antipyrine metabolism was determined in conscious, unrestrained rats after isovolemic hemodilution with FluosolR-DA. Rats received an intravenous antipyrine dose (20 mg/kg) 0.5, 24, 48, or 72 hours after hemodilution and the pharmacokinetic parameters were compared to non-exchanged control (CONT) animals. Antipyrine clearance (Cl) was significantly decreased at 0.5 and 72 hours after hemodilution. Hemodilution did not significantly alter the antipyrine apparent volume of distribution (Vd) for 48 hours; however, Vd was significantly decreased by 60% at 72 hours. The cytochrome P-450 mediated formation of 3OHME and 4OH was significantly increased at 48 and 72 hours due to an increased metabolite formation rate constant (kf) and not an enhanced metabolic clearance (Clm).

Relationship between the metabolism of antipyrine, hexobarbitone and theophylline in man as assessed by a 'cocktail' approach

1. Three model substrates for the characterization of drug oxidation activity, antipyrine (AP), hexobarbitone (HB) and theophylline (TH), were administered to 26 healthy volunteers on two different occasions: in the first experiment a combination of AP (250 mg) and HB (250 mg) was given and in the second experiment TH (150 mg) was added to the former combination. 2. Plasma concentrations of AP, HB and TH and urinary excretion of TH and the three main metabolites of AP (3-hydroxymethylantipyrine: HMA, norantipyrine: NORA and 4-hydroxyantipyrine: OHA) were determined and the intrinsic clearance (CLint) of the three substrates and the clearance to the formation of AP metabolites were calculated. 3. The correlation coefficients between CLHB and CL-greater than metabolites of AP were highest for CL-greater than HMA and CL-greater than NORA (greater than 0.80) and lowest for CL-greater than OHA (0.63). High correlation coefficients also were found between CLTH and CL-greater than OHA (0.89) and CL-greater than HMA (0.80). 4. Ideal relationships, defined by a slope of the orthogonal regression line equal to unity, did exist between CLHB and CL-greater than HMA as well as CL-greater than NORA and between CLTH and CLAP as well as CL-greater than OHA. 5. Based on the results of correlation and regression analysis it can be concluded that isozymes of the cytochrome P-450 system responsible for the oxidation of HB and formation of HMA and NORA are very closely related and also that isozymes responsible for the oxidation of TH and formation of OHA show a very close relation. 6. With this strategy of simultaneous administration of substrates ('cocktail' approach) it seems possible to characterize and correlate activities of different P-450 isozymes and to investigate their in vivo substrate selectivity without the disturbing influence of intra-individual variation in drug oxidation.

The effect of varying percentages of haemodilution with fluosol-DA or normal saline on antipyrine metabolism in the rat

Antipyrine disposition and metabolism in conscious, unrestrained rats after 25 or 50% haemodilution with Fluosol or normal (0.9% NaCl) saline is reported. Rats received an intravenous antipyrine dose (20 mg kg-1) 0.5, 24, 48, or 72 h after haemodilution and its pharmacokinetic parameters have been compared with non-exchanged control animals. Haemodilution 25% with Fluosol initially depressed antipyrine metabolism for 24 h by decreasing the antipyrine urinary excretion rate constant and the formation rate constants of 4-hydroxyantipyrine (4-OH) and 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (3-OHME). Metabolism was then increased for 48 and 72 h with a slight increase in all rate constants. Haemodilution 50% with Fluosol produced a similar pattern but with significant increases in the 3-OHME formation rate constant found at 48 and 72 h. Haemodilution 25% with saline reduced 4-OH formation for 48 h. Haemodilution 50% with saline significantly reduced antipyrine urinary excretion at all times. After a significant increase in the 4-OH and 3-OHME formation rate constants at 24 h following 50% haemodilution with saline, the rate constants were significantly decreased at 48 and 72 h. Haemodilution 25% with Flusol significantly reduced the antipyrine Vd at 0.5 and 72 h. After haemodilution 50% with Fluosol, the Vd alternated between values greater and less than control throughout the 72 h. Haemodilution 25 or 50% with saline had little influence on Vd.

Incidence of a subclinical fascioliasis on antipyrine clearance and metabolite excretion in sheep

1. The pharmacokinetics of i.v. antipyrine (25 mg/kg) used as a model compound, were determined in young male sheep, before and each month after an oral infestation by 150 metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica, and 8 weeks following a flukicidal treatment. 2. The parasitic pathology was ascertained by the clinical observation of animals and the increase in plasma antibodies directed against liver flukes. 3. A significant decrease in the total plasma clearance of the drug occurred by week 4 to 16, and a 1.7 fold increase in mean residence time occurred by week 12 post-infection. 4. Urinary excretion of antipyrine metabolites was determined before and 8 weeks following the infestation. 4-Hydroxyantipyrine was the major urinary metabolite and its excretion was decreased by 30% in infected sheep, whereas there was no change in the excretion of norantipyrine, 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine or unmetabolized drug. 5. It is concluded that the impairment of antipyrine clearance in the course of fascioliasis could be related to the decrease in liver microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent mono-oxygenases observed in sheep with a similar parasitic burden.

Differential effect of type I and type II diabetes on antipyrine disposition in man

As the influence of diabetes on drug metabolism in patients is controversial, a study was performed to assess antipyrine (AP) disposition in controlled Type I and Type II diabetics and 2 age- and sex-matched control groups. In Type I diabetics, the half-life of AP was significantly reduced from 12.0 (controls) to 7.9 h, and the volume of distribution (V) was lowered from 733 to 569 ml.kg-1. The resulting plasma clearance and cumulative urinary excretion of AP and its metabolites over 24 h did not differ from controls. In Type II diabetics, the AP half-life (14.5 h) and V (568 ml.kg-1) did not differ from their age- and sex-matched controls (11.1 h and 643 ml.kg-1, respectively), but the plasma clearance of AP was significantly reduced by 30%, and urinary excretion was significantly reduced to 44% of controls. The differential effects of Types I and II diabetes on AP metabolism may explain, at least in part, the controversial data in the literature.

Comparative effects of rifabutin and rifampicin on hepatic microsomal enzyme activity in normal subjects

The comparative enzyme inducing effects of rifabutin and the chemically related drug rifampicin have been investigated in 8 normal subjects. Rifampicin 600 mg daily for 7 days caused considerable shortening of the antipyrine half-life and a marked increase in antipyrine clearance, associated with an increased rate of conversion to norantipyrine and, to a lesser extent, 4-hydroxyantipyrine and 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine. The urinary excretion of 6-beta-hydroxycortisol was also markedly increased, while plasma GGT activity showed only a slight albeit statistically significant elevation. In the same subjects, rifabutin in the proposed therapeutic dosage (300 mg daily) for 7 days also enhanced the metabolic elimination of antipyrine, with preferential stimulation of the demethylation pathway, and increased the excretion of 6-beta-hydroxycortisol, but the magnitude of the effects was significantly less than after rifampicin. No significant change in plasma GGT was seen. The results indicate that, contrary to the findings in animals, rifabutin does have enzyme inducing properties in man, although at the dosages assessed they were considerably less than those of rifampicin.

Dose dependent suppression of hepatic cytochrome P-450 content by doxorubicin and Mitomycin-C: correlation with antipyrine biotransformation

Doxorubicin (DOX) and Mitomycin-C (MMC) are two anthraquinones which, when administered to rats, result in a decrease in the content of hepatic cytochrome P-450 and mixed function oxidase activities. DOX administration produced a dose-dependent immediate decrease in cytochrome P-450 content at all doses but a parallel dose-dependent decrease in the rate of antipyrine metabolite formation of the two higher doses. The lower dose of DOX produced an increase in metabolite formation and produced a less than 20% reduction in cytochrome P-450 content. MMC administration produced an immediate, modest (less than 10% of control levels) suppression of hepatic cytochrome P-450 content, and had no effect on antipyrine metabolite formation. These findings demonstrates that two drugs of the same class can produce similar suppressions of cytochrome P-450 content and that a threshold suppression of cytochrome P-450 content is needed to produce alterations in in vivo drug biotransformations.

Studies on in vitro antipyrine metabolism by 13C,15N double labeled method

The capacities of forms of cytochrome P-450 to oxidize antipyrine were compared. An isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/selected ion monitoring assay was developed to quantify the three main metabolites, norantipyrine, 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine and 4-hydroxyantipyrine. 13C,15N-Double labeled antipyrine was used as a substrate and the metabolites were analyzed as their trimethylsilyl derivatives. Among forms of cytochrome P-450 examined, a male-specific form of P-450, namely P-450-male, showed higher activity to form all the three metabolites. The other forms were responsible only for the formation of norantipyrine and 4-hydroxyantipyrine. The activities of liver microsomes from untreated male and female rats and rats treated with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene or polychlorinated biphenyl were expressed dependent on the activities of forms of cytochrome P-450 examined.

The effect of midazolam administration on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine in the rat

1. The clearance and elimination half-lives for i.v. doses of antipyrine were determined in 6 groups of 6 male CD rats with no prior treatment, then again following 7 days treatment with graded oral doses of midazolam, and finally after 3 i.p. doses of phenobarbitone. 2. Substantial increases in clearance and decreases in half-lives were observed following phenobarbitone treatment, demonstrating that antipyrine provides a reliable index of enzyme induction. 3. After treatment with midazolam, maximal induction was seen in animals dosed at 27 or 80 mg/kg per day; an intermediate effect was found with 9 mg/kg per day and no effect at 0.2 and 1.0 mg/kg per day. 4. The results indicate that there is a substantial margin of safety between the proposed human therapeutic doses (7.5 to 15 mg/day) and the minimum effective dose that leads to enzyme induction in laboratory animals.

Inhibition of cytochrome P-450-dependent oxidation reactions by MAO inhibitors in rat liver microsomes

The inhibition of cytochrome P-450 dependent hydroxylations of bufuralol (BH) and antipyrine, and O-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin (7-ECOD) by several monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) was investigated in rat liver microsomes. According to their IC50 values, clorgyline was the most potent inhibitor while toloxatone, the only reversible MAOI in this study, was the least potent. A great variability of inhibitory potencies was found, even in the same chemical class of MAOIs. Irreversible inhibition of BH and 7-ECOD has been studied. Rapid irreversible inhibition occurred in some cases, and this could be responsible for in vivo inhibition after repeated dosing of these MAOIs.