title: Pharmacokinetics of glutathione-dextran macromolecular conjugate in mice.
abstract: A fluorescein-labeled dextran-glutathione conjugate (FD-GSH) was synthesized in order to examine its disposition in the body. GSH was covalently attached to the FITC-labeled dextran by the cyanogen bromide activation method. Mice were injected with FD-GSH through the tail vein, and the levels of FD-GSH in the blood and various organs were measured fluorometrically. A substantial level of FD-GSH was found in the liver and this reached a maximum at 6-8 h after the injection. The hepatic uptake clearance was estimated to be 0.541 +/- 0.014 ml/h/g tissue or 42.4 +/- 9.8 ml/h/kg body weight. FD--GSH accumulated in the liver for a long period, while the half-life of the conjugate in the blood circulation was 1.45h. The cumulative urinary and fecal excretions of FD-GSH were 14% and 4% of dose at 72h after the injection, respectively. A molecular design of the conjugate was discussed on the basis of the results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fukuyama University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaneo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanoh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003911:Dextrans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005978:Glutathione / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006207:Half-Life; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005978:Glutathione; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate