Development and preliminary pharmacologic evaluation of a zwitterionic oral cholecystographic agent.

A new zwitterionic iodinated molecule, 2-[3-(N-ethyl-2-hydroxyethyl) amino-acetamido-2, 4, 6-triiodobenzyl]-butyric acid (RCK-136) was synthesized, and its potential as an oral cholecystopaque was tested. In rats, 15 minutes following intravenous injection, RCK-136 reached maximum biliary concentration; 84% of the dose was excreted into bile. Biliary excretion of RCK-136 elicited a strong choleresis (44 ml of bile flow per mmol compound). Intravenous LD50 in rats averaged 390 mgI/kg. ED50 in rats, intradiencephalic, averaged 1.98 mgI/kg. The average densities of cholecystograms produced in three dogs with iosumetic acid and/or RCK-136 were comparable.