title: Theophylline distribution in the premature neonate.
abstract: Theophylline (T) tissue distribution was studied in 11 premature newborns treated with T for prematurity apnea, who had died from severe pathology. To investigate the pattern of distribution of T, in particular the role of the blood-brain barrier in this period of life, two animal species were employed (rat and guinea pig), differing widely in their postnatal development. T was administered to the animals acutely and chronically and the resulting data were compared to human findings. In human prematures no specific accumulation and a wide variety in tissue concentrations, as in tissue/blood ratios, were observed. In the rat, unlike the guinea pig, brain/blood ratios of T concentration declined as postnatal age rose, suggesting that development of the blood-brain barrier plays a major role.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001049:Apnea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D013806:Theophylline / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013806:Theophylline