Utility of Gastrointestinal Physiology Regulated-Dogs : Bioavailability Study of a Commercial sustained-Release Dosage Form of Theophylline

The utility of gastrointestinal physiology regulated-dogs (regulated-dogs) was evaluated in a bioavailability study. The gastrointestinal physiology of beagle dogs was regulated with a combined-treatment of intramuscular pentagastrin and intravenous atropine sulfate. Theophylline has been regarded as a drug that is absorbed completely in the entire gastrointestinal tract but slowly in the colon for humans. A commercial sustained-release tablet (SR tablet) of theophylline and a commercial conventional tablet of aminophylline (theophylline hemiethilenediamine salt) were chosen as model preparations in this study. In the regulated-dogs, the drug absorption was almost complete for the conventional tablet. The bioavailability of the SR table accounted for 76% in the regulated-dogs and 71% in intact dogs relative to that of the conventional tablet in the regulated-dogs, respectively, but no significant difference was detectable between these values. An advantage of the regulated-dogs over the intact dogs was, however, revealed in the time-profiles of the cumulative percentage of theophylline absorbed from the SR tablet, suggesting a modification of drug absorption by the prolonged arrival of the tablet to the colon.