[Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of 3H-norcantharidin in mice]

A single dose of 3H-norcantharidin solution was intragastrically given, blood, tissues, urine and feces were collected as scheduled, and radioactivity in these samples was determined by tritium tracing method to investigate the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of norcantharidin in Kunming mice. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of norcantharidin were evaluated by DAS version 2.0. The blood concentration reached to maximum 0. 5 h after intragastric administration. The radioactivity in tissues was high in small intestine, gallbladder, stomach, adrenal gland, kidney, heart and uterus 15 minutes after administration, descending with time, and high in gallbladder, adrenal gland and uterus 3 hours post dosing. The 24 h accumulative excretion ratio of urine and feces were 65.40% and 1.33% respectively. 3H-norcantharidin was easily absorbed after orally given to mice, the radioactivity was high and existed for a long-time in gallbladder, adrenal gland and uterus, and low but also existed for a long-time in large intestine, thymus and fat tissue. 3H-norcantharidin was declined quickly in small intestine, stomach, kidney and heart, and occurred rarely in brain. Norcantharidin was excreted mainly by urinary route and seldom in feces, which may be the cause of the urinary stimulation side effects observed. Because the radioactivity measured were the sum of 3H labeled norcantharidin and its metabolites, further studies on the disposition of norcantharidin in mammal animals, on the separation or identification of metabolites and, if any, on their activities, are fairly needed.