The effects of hyperosmolar agents lithium chloride and sucrose on the brain concentration of diminazene aceturate in rats.

The concentrations of diminazene aceturate in the brain of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected and uninfected rats treated with diminazene aceturate (3.1 mg/kg, im) and either LiCl (2.5, 5.0 and 10 micrograms/kg) or sucrose (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) were determined. When diminazene aceturate was administered at a standard dose of 3.1 mg/kg (im), the addition of LiCl (10 micrograms/kg, im) increased significantly (P < 0.05) the concentration of the drug in the brains of both trypanosome infected and normal infected rats. The addition of sucrose (1.0 g/kg, im) instead of LiCl failed to give any significant increase in diminazene aceturate levels in the brain. The diminazene aceturate levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the organs (brain, kidney, liver and spleen) of trypanosome infected compared to uninfected rats. The concentration of diminazene aceturate in the organs increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing concentrations of LiCl.