[Studies on pharmacokinetics and biotransformation of reproterol in animal and man (author's transl)].

Investigations on the pharmacokinetics and biotransformation in the rat, dog, rabbit and in humans were performed with 3H-or 14C-labelled 7-(3-[2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethlamino]-propyl)-theophylline (reproterol, Bronchospasmin). Following i.v. administration of reproterol, a similar course of the plasma levels as shown in both rat and dog. After oral administration to the rat, elimination occurs within 2 h following application; in the dog, however, a relatively constant plasma level persists for up to 24 h, which is then reduced during an elimination half-life of 12.4 h. Following i.v. as well as oral administration to the rabbit, phases of distribution and elimination persist over a considerable length of time. Plasma levels following oral administration remain relatively constant during a time period of 8--30 h, after which they decrease with a half-life of 70 h. Renal elimination in the dog and rabbit after i.v. application seems to be the main route of excretion (dog 57%, rabbit 66%), while in the rat there is 58% fecal elimination. Absorption ratios following oral administration amount to 13% in the rabbit and 18% in the rat and dog. The absorption ration in the rat following intratracheal application reaches 90%. This was particularly important in view of the anticipated use of reproterol as an aerosol. Tests on the quantitative organic distribution further showed that in the rat, the lund tissue has a particular affinity to reproterol. In man following i.v. administration, reproterol is rapidly distributed and eliminated. The highest plasma level reached within 2 h after oral administration, correlates well with the initial plasma level following i.v. administration. A great similarity was shown for the reproterol metabolism in rat, dog, rabbit and man. With complete metabolization, the same main metabolite is always formed.