Distribution of tiropramide and metabolites after single intravenous or peroral administration of 14C-tiropramide to the rat.

The study was performed with 14C-tiropramide hydrochloride, i.e. O-(2-diethylamino-ethyl)-N-benzoyl-[DL-(U-14C)tyrosyl]-dipropylamide+ ++ hydrochloride, with a specific activity of 466.16 microCi/mmol. The substance was administered in single intravenous (i.v.) doses of 4 mg/kg to 16 rats (8 males and 8 females) and in single peroral (p.o.) doses of 10 mg/kg to other 16 rats (8 males and 8 females). The radioactivity in plasma, in several organs and tissues and in gastrointestinal contents was measured by scintillometry. After i.v. administration the radioactivity is rapidly found in all investigated organs and tissues and also in the stomach contents. The radioactivity is concentrated in the liver and kidney, and also in other organs, as the pancreas and the salivary glands. After 120 h the radioactivity is small in the organs but still appreciably present in the colon content. The radioactivity crosses the blood-brain barrier. Deep compartments were not found. After p.o. administration the radioactivity is rapidly found in the organs and is particularly concentrated in the liver, showing a rapid absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Besides the obvious higher concentration of radioactivity in the stomach and small intestine in the initial times after p.o. administration, the distribution and elimination pattern from the organs do not substantially differ from those found after i.v. administration. The distribution pattern found using the scintillographic method were confirmed by an autoradiographic study made on 12 non-pregnant rats (10 males and 2 females) and on 7 rats at the 13th day of pregnancy and 7 rats at the 18th day of pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)