Pharmacokinetics of Dopamine-2 Agonists in Rats and Dogs

The absorption, protein binding, blood-to-plasma ratio, renal excretion, and pharmacokinetics of the dopamine-2 agonists (D2-agonists) 4-(2-di-n-propylaminoethyl)-7-hydroxy-2-(3H)-indolone (1), N-(2′-hydroxy-5′-[N,N-di-n-propylaminoethylphenyl])methane-sulfonamide (2), and 4-(2-di-n-propylaminoethyl)-2-(3H)-indolone (3) were examined in dogs and rats. On the basis of relative cumulative urinary recoveries of radiolabeled drug, all three compounds are well absorbed in rats and dogs. In dogs, the free fractions in plasma of unchanged 1, 2, and 3, determined by in vitro studies, were 74, 86, and 63%, respectively, and the protein binding was constant with increasing concentration. The blood-to-plasma partition ratios of the respective compounds were 1.22, 1.14, and 1.16 in dogs, and the ratios were constant with increasing concentration. Large differences between species (dogs, rats, and humans) in protein binding and blood-to-plasma ratios were not seen. The clearances (blood or plasma) of 1 and 2 in dogs were significantly greater than the clearance of 3. The clearance of 3 was almost exclusively nonrenal, whereas 13% of 1 and 2 were recovered unchanged in urine. The steady-state volumes of distribution and the distribution and elimination half-lives of the three compounds were not significantly different. Importantly, the mean residence time of 3 (147 min) in dogs was significantly longer than those of 1 (90 min) and 2 (96 min). The results of analogous studies in rats indicate that 1 and 2 are more rapidly metabolized than 3.