In vivo microdialysis for pharmacokinetic investigations: a plasma protein binding study of valproate in rabbits.

The use of microdialysis to study the binding of valproate (VPA) to plasma proteins was evaluated in rabbits. Prior to an in vivo microdialysis, in vitro relative recovery of VPA respectively from Ringer's solution, 5% (w/v) of albumin solution and plasma sample via a microdialysis probe was examined. The in vitro relative recovery was defined as a ratio of the VPA concentration determined in the dialysate to the free VPA concentration in the sample solution surrounding the membrane of the microdialysis probe. When the sample solution was well stirred at 700 rpm and maintained at 37 degrees C, the in vitro relative recovery of VPA was significantly different among them. It increased in the order of Ringer's solution (34.3 +/- 2.6%) > 5% (w/v) of albumin solution (25.7 +/- 4.6%) > rabbit plasma sample (15.8 +/- 1.2%). Thereafter, pharmacokinetics of VPA was determined using both microdialysis sampling via the rabbit femoral vein and collection of whole blood via the rabbit ear vein after intravenous administration of VPA at a dose of 43 mg/kg. Free concentrations of VPA in plasma were determined by ultrafiltration method as opposed to microdialysis method. There was no difference in the elimination half-life of VPA determined by microdialysis, 1.09 +/- 0.22 h, or ultrafiltration, 1.22 +/- 0.21 h. The AUC of VPA in dialysate was 15 +/- 4 micrograms.h/ml, which corresponded to 15% of that in ultrafiltrate (103 +/- 17 micrograms.h/ml). The value was in good agreement with the in vitro relative recovery of VPA from plasma sample (15.8 +/- 1.2%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)