title: Influence of age on stereoselective pharmacokinetics and metabolism of hexobarbital in the rat.
abstract: The influence of age on stereoselective pharmacokinetics and in vitro metabolism of R- and S-hexobarbital was studied in the rat. After intravenous administration of the racemate, the plasma concentrations of S-hexobarbital are markedly lower than those of R-hexobarbital. For S-hexobarbital the half-life is somewhat shorter and the volume of distribution and plasma clearance is higher than for its antipode. For both enantiomers an increase in AUC and half-life, and a decrease in clearance are observed with aging. These changes occur mainly between the 3rd and the 12th month and are slightly more pronounced for R- than for S-hexobarbital, as appears from the S/R ratios. The volume of distribution shows no changes with aging. In vitro disappearance rate in 3-month-old rats is significantly higher for S- than for R-hexobarbital. There is for both enantiomers an increase in disappearance rate in 12-month-old rats as compared to younger or older rats, but this is significant only for the R-enantiomer. There are pronounced differences in the kinetics and metabolism of both hexobarbital enantiomers; changes with aging occur, but are only slightly and not always significantly more important for R- than for S-hexobarbital.
authors.affiliation: Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, University of Gent Medical School, Belgium.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Belpaire
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Smet
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rosseel
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bogaert
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000032:analysis; D006400:Hematocrit; D006591:Hexobarbital / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D006591:Hexobarbital