Conjugation of salicylamide in the intestinal wall of dogs and rabbits.

The intestinal conjugation of salicylamide (SAM) the formation of SAM sulfate (SAMS) and SAM glucuronide (SAMG) were investigated in dogs and rabbits by using in situ intestinal sac preparation with mesenteric vein cannulation. SAM, SAMS and SAMG in the mesenteric venous blood, sampled at successive intervals after injection of SAM solutions into the sac, were determined. Total recoveries in 1 h were not significantly different in dogs (71%) and rabbits (64%). Both animals, however, showed a quantitative difference in intestinal conjugation. Sulfation predominated over glucuronidation in dog intestine while the formation of the glucuronide was exclusively high in rabbit intestine. Furthermore, the dose-dependent conjugation of SAM was investigated in dog intestine at four doses, 2, 3, 6 and 10 mg/one animal. Upon increasing the doses from 2 to 10 mg, the amounts of SAMS appearing in the blood remained unchanged, those of SAMG increased about two times and those of free SAM increased about six times, while the total recoveries increased parallel to the doses, suggesting saturation kinetics in the formation step of the two conjugates. Simultaneous computer-fitting of the experimental data for 2 and 10 mg doses to a simplified model, containing Michaelis-Menten kinetics in the formation of the conjugates, was examined and good agreement between the observed data and the theoretical values was obtained.