Abstract

The pharmacokinetics, mass balance, tissue distribution, and metabolism of Co 102862 was investigated in rats after a single oral dose. [¹⁴C]Co 102862 showed multiexponential pharmacokinetics in rat plasma with an extensive distribution phase. After p.o. administration (∼10 mg/kg), the half-lives were long for total radioactivity compared with unchanged Co 102862. Profiles of rat urine and bile suggest that Co 102862 is extensively metabolized in vivo. [¹⁴C]Co 102862 was extensively distributed into all tissues, with the fatty tissues and secretory glands tissues containing the highest radioactivity. Elimination of radioactivity from the tissues had an estimated half-life of 14 days. A total of 91% of the administered radioactivity was recovered in both intact and bile-duct cannulated rats over 120 and 48 h, respectively, with the majority (∼74%) of the radioactivity being excreted in the urine. Approximately 10% of the total radioactivity remained in the tissues on day 5 and decreased with time to ∼3% on day 28. Bile-duct cannulated experiments show the enterohepatic circulation is an important route of elimination and reabsorption. Six metabolites were identified in the urine and bile of which the carboxylic acid was the major metabolite. The carboxylic acid was the only metabolite found in plasma and was probably responsible for the radioactivity in the tissues.