Tissue Residues and Elimination of Sulphadimidine in Non-Starved and Starved Rabbits

The tissue concentrations and kinetics of sulphadimidine (100 mg kg-1; intravenous) has been studied in normal and starved rabbits by chemical assay method. The results indicate that, different concentrations of the drug were obtained in the various tissues (liver, heart, kidney brain and skeletal muscle) examined. The drug persisted in the brain and skeletal muscle of the animals up to 12 days after its administration. The starved rabbits maintained consistently higher concentrations of the drug in its tissues as compared to the fed ones. The half-life of the drug was shortest in the liver (5.63 and 6.11 h) of the non-starved and starved rabbits, respectively. The elimination rate constants were correspondingly higher in the liver (0.210 and 0.230 h), respectively for the non-starved and starved rabbits. The study therefore concludes that, acute starvation can raise the tissue concentrations of sulphadimidine in rabbits and the safe withdrawal time following the administration of the drug should be in excess of twelve days.