Effect of succinic acid and tween-80 on glucuronidation of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine.

We studied the effect of succinic acid on the process of glucuronidation of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine after peroral and intraperitoneal administration in the form of succinate or a base. Since the basic form of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine is insoluble in water, it was administered in 5% Tween-80. It was necessary to evaluate also the effect of Tween-80 on glucuronidation of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine in different administration routes. Quantitative assay of glucuronidated fractions was performed by the method of reversed-phase HPLC with fluorometrical detection. The detection limit for this method was 10 ng/ml. We confirmed that the major excretion pathway for 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine is conjugation with glucuronic acid. It was found that succinic acid increased excretion of glucuronidated metabolite after both peroral and intraperitoneal administration of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine in the form of succinate and base in 5% Tween-80. The effect of Tween-80 was detected only after peroral administration, which was probably related to its effect on absorption of this compound. Tween-80 increased excretion of glucuronate after peroral administration of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine in the form of succinate and in 5% Tween solution.