Disposition of aprophen in rats

Abstract

Abstract The pharmacokinetics of [14C]aprophen and its distribution were determined after intravenous administration to rats. The drug was distributed rapidly with a t½ (α) of 4 min to highly perfused organs like the brain, kidney and adrenals. An elimination phase was apparent 10 min after injection with a t½ (β) of 23.5 min. The high plasma clearance of the drug was due both to a large volume of distribution and to a high metabolic rate. Aprophen could be hydrolysed to diphenylpropionic acid and diethylaminoethanol in-vivo and in-vitro. Diethylaminoethanol competed with [3H]QNB binding to muscarinic receptors of N4TG1 cells, whereas diphenylpropionic acid did not. The lower plasma concentrations and lower binding activity of diethylaminoethanol compared with aprophen indicate that unchanged aprophen is largely responsible for the in-vivo actions.