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Purpose. Recombinant human erythropoietin (Epo) is used frequently through intravenous (i.v.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) administration for the clinical treatment of the last stage of renal anemia. We encapsulated Epo in liposomes to develop an alternative administration route. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and the pharmacological effects of liposomal Epo in comparison with the Epo after i.v. and s.c. administration to rats. Methods. Epo was encapsulated in liposomes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and soybean-derived sterol mixture (SS) prepared by the reversed-phase evaporation vesicle method. After filtration through a 0.1 μm polycarbonate membrane, liposomes were gel filtered (Epo/liposomes). Results. Epo/liposomes showed higher pharmacological activity than Epo/liposomes before gel filtration after i.v. administration to rats. Non-encapsulated Epo lost its activity, whereas encapsulated Epo in liposomes retained it. The pharmacological effects of Epo/liposomes were greater than those of Epo after i.v. administration. Epo/liposomes afforded 3−9 times higher AUC, lower clearance and lower steady-state volume of distribution than Epo after both i.v. and s.c. administrations. Epo/liposomes had an improved pharmacokinetic profile compared with Epo. S.c. administration of Epo/liposomes at 7 h may penetrate primarily (40% of dose) through the blood as a liposome and partly (7% of dose) in lymph. Conclusions. Epo/liposomes may reduce the frequency of injections required for a certain reticulocyte effect in comparison to Epo. The lower clearance of Epo/liposomes may increase the plasma concentrations of Epo, which increases the efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the stereoselective distribution of methylphenidate (MPD) enantiomers in rats, the concentrations of each enantiomer were determined in plasma and brain regions (cerebellum, striatum, basal forebrain, brain stem, and cortex) after iv administration of racemic MPD and its individual enantiomers. The concentrations of MPD enantiomers in each brain region reached pseudo-steady state within 10 min after iv administration of racemic MPD (2 mg/kg dose). The influx clearances for MPD calculated from K values in each brain region were not significantly different between MPD enantiomers and between the five brain regions. The mean K values for (+ )-MPD in the striatum at 120 and 240 min after administration of racemic MPD were 10.1 and 10.5, respectively, and these values at each time were significantly larger than the K values (7.5 and 7.0, respectively) for the (-)-isomer (P < 0.01). The K value for (+ )-MPD in the striatum decreased by coadministration of mazindol as an inhibition of both dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, but it was not changed by desipramine as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. These results suggest that ( + )-MPD was bound specifically to the dopamine reuptake site in the striatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systemic degradation and reticuloendothelial system (RES) uptake of cisplatin (CDDP)-encapsulated thermosensitive liposomes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and di-stearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) (DPPC/DSPC = 9/1, 7/3, and 5/5, w/w) after intravenous administration to rats were examined by measuring the platinum (Pt) levels in the blood and RES (liver and spleen). The blood liposome level profile showed first-order rate elimination for each liposome administration. The elimination rate ( K) was faster when the content of DSPC was lower ( K: 1.3/hr for 9/1-liposomes, 0.7/hr for 7/3-liposomes, 0.5/hrfor5/5-liposomes). On the other hand, the RES liposome level profile showed distribution of liposomes followed by elimination therefrom. The RES level of the liposomes was lower when the content of DSPC was smaller (maximal level: 25% for 9/1-liposomes at 1 hr, 32% for 7/3-liposomes at 1 hr, 37% for 5/5-liposomes at 2 hr). The kinetic analysis demonstrated that the RES uptake rate ( K) was almost the same among the liposomes (0.4/hr), while the systemic degradation rate ( K; K − K) became larger as the content of DSPC decreased (0.9/hr for 9/1-liposomes, 0.3/hr for 7/3-liposomes, and 0.1/hr for 5/5-liposomes) and that the RES liposome distribution amount was dependent not only on the K but also on the K and the rate of RES liposome degradation. The K for each type of liposome corresponded with the systemic CDDP release rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recombinant human relaxin (rhRlx) is being developed as a potential cervical ripening agent to be applied intravaginally or intracervically prior to parturition. The pharmacokinetics and absorption of rhRlx were determined in nonpregnant female rabbits and rhesus monkeys after intravenous bolus (iv) and intravaginal administration of 0.1 mg/kg; additionally, rabbits were dosed with 0.5 mg/kg intravaginally. In rabbits ( n = 6), mean (±SD) peak concentrations following iv bolus administration were 1554 ± 296 ng/mL. The weight-normalized clearance (CL/ W) was 5.9 ± 0.4 mL/min/kg, initial volume of distribution ( V/ W) was 57 ± 9 mL/kg, and volume of distribution at steady state ( V/ W), assuming central compartment elimination, was 240 ± 20 mL/kg. V/ W could be as large as 2000 ± 400 mL/kg without this assumption. The estimated amounts of rhRlx absorbed in rabbits following intravaginal administration of 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg ( n = 5/dose) were 3.1 ± 1.4 and 0.7 ± 0.3%, respectively; peak concentrations were 600 ± 297 and 1066 ± 584 pg/mL, respectively. In rhesus monkeys ( n = 5) after iv administration, peak concentrations were 971 ± 277 ng/mL; CL/ W was 4.1 ± 0.6 mL/ min/kg, V/ W was 78 ± 25 mL/kg, and V/ W, assuming central compartment elimination, was 690 ± 220 mL/kg. The upper limit for V/ W was 1600 ± 200 mL/kg when no assumptions were made regarding site (compartment) of elimination. After intravaginal administration ( n = 6), two monkeys had undetectable rhRlx concentrations throughout the 48-hr sampling interval; one monkey had only one sample containing measurable rhRlx (51 pg/mL) at 24 hr; and three monkeys absorbed <2% of the 0.1 mg/kg dose. Peak concentrations in these three animals ranged from 64 to 1475 pg/mL. The absorption of rhRlx was low and variable in both species, and similar results have been observed in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the pharmacokinetics of two synthetic derivatives of 1-deoxynojirimycin in the rat after intravenous administration. The mannosidase IA/B inhibitor 1-deoxymannojirimycin and the glucosidase inhibitor N-methyl- 1-deoxynojirimycin exhibited minimal plasma protein binding and showed a rapid biphasic plasma disappearance, with an initial t of 3.0 and 4.5 min, respectively, and a terminal t of 51 and 32 min, respectively. For both compounds renal excretion is the major route of elimination. After 120 min, 52% of the dose of 1-deoxymannojirimycin and 80% of the dose of N-methyl- 1-deoxymannojirimycin was recovered unchanged from the urine, whereas only 4.9 and 0.2%, respectively, of the dose was excreted in bile. Urinary clearance of 1-deoxymannojirimycin was similar to the glomerular filtration rate. In contrast, urinary clearance of N-methyl- 1-deoxynojirimycin was two to three times higher than the glomerular filtration rate, indicating active tubular secretion. Ligation of the renal vessels decreased the total-body clearance of 1-deoxymannojirimycin and N-methyl- 1-deoxynojirimycin 18- and 24-fold, respectively. Neither alkalinization of the urine by infusion of bicarbonate solutions nor forced diuresis altered the renal excretion rate of these compounds, implying the absence of tubular reabsorption. At 120 min, the amounts of 1-deoxymannojirimycin in liver and kidney were 2.1 and 1.1% of the dose, respectively, while small intestine, stomach, and heart contained only 0.9, 0.6 and 0.1%. Less than 1% of the dose of N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin was found in the collected organs 2 hr after injection. At the same time point, the kidney/plasma concentration ratio of N-methyl- 1-deoxynojirimycin was 10-fold higher than in other tissues, whereas for 1-deoxymannojirimycin it was only 2- to 3-fold higher in kidney, indicating a more persistent general tissue retention of 1-deoxymannojirimycin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naproxen and flurbiprofen form complexes with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin; with stability constants of 2207 and 12515 M respectively. However, only small fractions of the drug remain complexed when the drug-cyclodextrin complex is added to plasma in vitro. This result can be explained by albumin effectively competing with cyclodextrin for drug binding and by the simultaneous displacement of the drug from cyclodextrins by plasma cholesterol. Naproxen and flurbiprofen were administered intravenously to rats as cyclodextrin complexes. The disposition in the body of naproxen was not significantly altered by the complexation. This indicates that immediately after administration all drug is removed from the cyclodextrin complex. However, the initial distribution of flurbiprofen was changed upon complexation. Drug concentrations in liver, brain, kidney, and spleen were increased, indicating that hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin may improve the presentation of the flurbiprofen to biomembranes, as compared with plasma proteins. The effect was transient; 60 min after injection the differences in tissue concentration compared with controls were dissipated. Finally, the importance of protein binding in determining the mode of interaction of cyclodextrins on drug disposition is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion complex formation of intravenously administered hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and β-cyclodextrin with endogenous lipids was studied. We tested the hypothesis that complex formation of endogenous cholesterol with cyclodextrins in the bloodstream leads to extraction of cholesterol from the large lipoprotein particles. The relatively small cholesterol-cyclodextrin complexes then leave the bloodstream via capillary pores, and dissociation of the complex in the extravascular compartment finally causes redistribution of cholesterol from blood to tissue. This hypothesis is supported by the following experimental findings. Intravenous administration of cyclodextrins led to a transient decrease in plasma cholesterol levels in a dose-dependent manner, and in vitro cholesterol-cyclodextrin complexes passed dialysis membranes with a molecular weight cutoff of 6000-8000. Further, cyclodextrins increased protein binding of the steroidal drug spironolactone, probably through removal of cholesterol from plasma protein binding sites. Finally, extravascular redistribution was directly demonstrated in histological studies of the kidneys. Glomerular filtration of the cholesterol-cyclodextrin complex is followed by dissociation of the complex in the ultrafiltrate, resulting in cholesterol accumulation in the proximal tubule cells. The cholesterol-β-cyclodextrin complex has a limited aqueous solubility. Crystallization of this complex in renal tissue might explain the nephrotoxicity of parenterally administered β-cyclodextrin. The absence of such crystallization might explain the lower nephrotoxicity of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin after intravenous administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin was analyzed by HPLC using postcolumn complexation with phenolphthalein and negative colorimetric detection, with a detection limit of 20 µg/ml. The pharmacokinetics of β-cyclodextrin and of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin were studied after intravenous administration to permanently cannulated rats. The pharmacokinetic behavior of both cyclodextrins was similar to that of inulin, showing rapid distribution over extracellular fluids. Elimination occurred through glomerular filtration. When a dose of 200 mg/kg β-cyclodextrin was administered the elimination rate was decreased, probably as a result of nephrotoxicity of β-cyclodextrin. Within 24 hr after administration most of the cyclodextrin dose was recovered unchanged in urine. After oral administration, only insignificant amounts of intact β-cyclodextrin were absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So as to estimate the appropriate dose of antibacterial drugs in obese children, prediction of the volume of distribution in these children was attempted based on physiological pharmacokinetic concepts which had been constructed from results in normal-weight children. Serum concentration-time data after intravenous drip infusions of tobramycin and cefazolin were analyzed using noncompartmental analysis of obese children in whom the degree of obesity ranged from 30 to 80%. Volume of distribution at steady state ( V) per total body weight of tobramycin was significantly less than that for normal-weight children ( P < 0.05), whereas the value of cefazolin was almost equal to that for normal-weight children. The equation to express the difference of V between cefazolin and tobramycin obtained in normal-weight children failed in obese children, suggesting that there is a large decrease in the extracellular space in obese children exceeding the interindividual variations in normal-weight children. The V value (liter) for tobramycin was predicted by using the equation 0.261 · {ideal body weight (kg) + 0.4 · [total body weight (kg) - ideal body weight (kg)]}. The V value of cefazolin was predicted to be 0.3 · (predicted V of tobramycin) + 0.052 · total body weight (kg). A good correlation between the predicted and the observed V values was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]