Interspecies differences in pharmacokinetics of an antiallergic agent, 1-(2-ethoxyethyl)-2-(hexahydro-4-methyl-1,4-diazepin-1-yl)benzimidazole difumarate (KG-2413) after intravenous administration to rats, guinea pigs and dogs

: Interspecies differences in the pharmacokinetics of an antiallergic agent, 1-(2-ethoxyethyl)-2-(hexahydro-4-methyl-1,4-diazepin-1-yl)benzimid azole difumarate (KG-2413) after intravenous administration were investigated in rats, guinea pigs and dogs. The disappearance of unchanged KG-2413 base was described by biexponential curves in all three animal species. The areas under the plasma concentration-time curves (AUC) in rats, guinea pigs and dogs were 218, 421 and 369 ng.h/ml, respectively, at a dose of 2 mg/kg. The volume of distribution in rats was comparable to that in dogs, and was about three times greater than that in guinea pigs. This might be due to the difference in the unbound fractions of KG-2413 base in plasma (fu), that is, the values of fu in rats, dogs and guinea pigs were 0.607, 0.603 and 0.189, respectively. The first-order elimination rate constant from the central compartment (kcl) in dogs were smaller than those in rats and guinea pigs. Total body clearances (CLtot) of KG-2413 base in rats and guinea pigs were comparable to the hepatic blood flow rate (Q) of each animal. Assuming that KG-2413 base is only eliminated in the liver, relatively rapid metabolism of KG-2413 base occurred in the liver of rats and guinea pigs. In dogs, extrahepatic elimination was suggested because the value of CLtot seemed to be greater than that of Q.