The uricosuric effect in rats of E5050, a new derivative of ethanolamine, involves inhibition of the tubular postsecretory reabsorption of urate.

N-[3-[4'-(2",6"-Dimethylheptyl)phenyl]butanoyl]ethanolamine (E5050), a newly synthesized compound, was shown recently to induce uricosuria in humans via inhibition of the postsecretory reabsorption of urate. We examined the effects of this compound on urate excretion in rats loaded with oxonate and compared these effects with those of the uricosuric drugs trichlormethiazide and probenecid. When administered i.p., E5050 (0.3-15 mg/kg) increased the urinary excretion rate of urate and the ratio of urate clearance to inulin clearance in a dose-dependent manner, while the urine volume increased only slightly, and the glomerular filtration rate and plasma urate level were not changed. No paradoxical effect on urate excretion was observed. In contrast, trichlormethiazide and probenecid had a biphasic effect on urate excretion. In a pyrazinoic acid suppression test, the uricosuric effect of E5050 was completely inhibited by pretreatment with pyrazinoic acid. In a phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP) test, E5050 did not affect urinary PSP excretion, while probenecid strongly decreased such excretion. Thus, E5050 also appears to be uricosuric in rats.