Metabolic fate of the new cardiotonic denopamine in animals. 1st communication: absorption, distribution and excretion in the rat, rabbit and dog.

Absorption, distribution and excretion of (-)-(R)-1-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)amino] ethanol (denopamine, TA-064) a new positive inotropic agent, were studied after oral and intravenous administration of 3H- or 14C-denopamine (5 mg/kg) to different animal species. After oral administration to rats, rabbits and dogs, the time to attain the peak and the maximum concentration of the plasma levels of radioactivity were about 15 min, 4 micrograms eq./ml in rats, 15-45 min, 8 micrograms eq./ml in rabbits and 2-4 h, 2 micrograms eq./ml in dogs, respectively. The plasma denopamine levels in dogs reached the peak (0.34 microgram/ml) at 0.5-3 h after administration, and thereafter gradually decreased with half-lives of 1.6-3.1 h. Following oral administration to rats, the amounts remaining of the parent compound in the digestive tract at 0.5 and 3 h after administration were about 27 and 2% of the dose administered, respectively. This indicated that the compound was rapidly and almost completely absorbed from the intestinal tract. When 3H-denopamine was orally administered to rats, cumulative excretion of radioactivity in the urine and feces within 24 h were about 60 and 32% of the dose, respectively. Almost 100% of the dose were recovered from the urine and feces within 120 h. About 50% of the dose administered were excreted in the bile within 24 h. The occurrence of enterohepatic circulation was indicated in rats. Distribution of radioactivity was investigated in rats by means of whole body autoradiography and the tracer technique.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)