Intracellular distribution of tetracyclines in rat hepatocytes

: Distribution of tetracyclines, such as oxytetracycline, morphocycline, tetracycline, doxicycline and methacycline in the liver cells of rats was studied. The ratio of the subcellular structures, i. e. nuclei, mitochondria and microsomes and the liquid phase containing the drugs in the dissolved state in the system studied was close to the natural ratio of the hepatocyte organoids and cytoplasm. Distribution of tetracyclines in the subcellular fractions was not uniform. The nuclei did not absorb the drugs. The role of microsomes in drug absorption was insignificant. The mitochondria bound the highest amounts of the drugs and defined the characteristics of their intracellular distribution. The amounts of the drugs in the active form remaining in the cytoplasm after their contact with organoids were low. At the same time there was observed a a definite activating effect of the cytoplasm components on the antibiotics contained in it.