Author:
Cox Eugene H.,Langemeijer Mariska W. E.,Gubbens-Stibbe Josy M.,Muir Keith T.,Danhof Meindert
Abstract
Background
The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo pharmacodynamics and the pharmacodynamic interactions of remifentanil and its major metabolite, GR90291, in a rat electroencephalographic model.
Methods
Remifentanil and GR90291 were administered according to a stepwise infusion scheme. The time course of the electroencephalographic effect (0.5-4.5 Hz) was determined in conjunction with concentrations of the parent drug and the metabolite in blood.
Results
Administration of remifentanil resulted in concentrations of remifentanil and GR90291 in the ranges 0-120 ng/ml and 0-850 ng/ml, respectively. When the metabolite was administered, concentrations of the metabolite in the range 0-220 microg/ml and no measurable concentrations of remifentanil were observed. The mean +/- SE values of the pharmacokinetic parameters clearance and volume of distribution at steady state were 920+/-110 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) and 1.00+/-0.93 l/kg for remifentanil and 15+/-2 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) and 0.56+/-0.08 l/kg for GR90291. The relative free concentrations in the brain, as determined on the basis of the cerebrospinal fluid/total blood concentration ratio at steady state, were 25+/-5% and 0.30+/-0.11% for remifentanil and GR90291, respectively. Concentration-electroencephalographic effect relations were characterized on the basis of the sigmoidal Emax pharmacodynamic model. The mean +/- SE values for the maximal effect (Emax), the concentration at which 50% of the maximal effect is obtained (EC50), and Hill factor for remifentanil were 109+/-12 microV, 9.4+/-0.9 ng/ml, and 2.2+/-0.3, respectively (n = 8). For GR90291, the mean +/- SE values for EC50 and the Hill factor were 103,000+/-9,000 microg/ml and 2.5+/-0.4, respectively (n = 6).
Conclusions
Analysis of the data on the basis of a previously postulated, mechanism-based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model for synthetic opioids revealed that the low in vivo potency of GR90291 can be explained by a low affinity to the mu-opioid receptor in combination with a poor brain penetration.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Subject
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Cited by
57 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献