Direct demonstration of small intestinal secretion and site‐dependent absorption of the β‐blocker talinolol in humans

Objective To examine the relevance of site-dependent small intestinal absorption for incomplete intestinal absorption of the poorly metabolized β1-adrenergic receptor antagonist talinolol. Methods The intestinal steady-state perfusion technique (triple lumen tubing system with a 30 cm test segment) for intraluminal measurements was combined with simultaneous determination of talinolol serum concentrations. Dissolved talinolol was perfused over 160 minutes into different parts of the small intestine. The middle of the test segment was located between 95 and 235 cm beyond the teeth. Each of the six healthy subjects was studied twice with a proximal and a more distal site of perfusion to allow for comparisons within an individual subject. Results The area under the curve for serum concentrations from 0 to 480 minutes [AUC(0–480 min)] and the maximum serum concentration after distal perfusions corresponded to only 15% to 73% and 7% to 90% of the proximal values, respectively. AUC decreased with increasing distance from the teeth. The mean amount of talinolol absorbed from the test segment per unit time (intestinal transport rate) corresponds to only one-tenth of the amount of drug offered to the test segment (perfusion rate). There was a direct correlation between the perfusion rate of talinolol and its transport rate for both regions and in all subjects investigated. However, to achieve the same transport rate in the distal region a higher perfusion rate is required, compared to the proximal small intestine. At perfusion rates lower than 600 μg/min, net secretion of talinolol into the intestinal lumen occurred against a steep concentration gradient blood: lumen of about 1:4200. Conclusion Talinolol oral bioavailability of 55% is due to a low absorption rate and a decrease of absorption capabilities along the small intestine. Net absorption of talinolol is reduced by the involvement of active intestinal secretion. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1996) 59, 541–549; doi: