Cerebral pharmacokinetics of ipsapirone in rats after different routes of administration

Ipsapirone, a putative non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic, was extensively metabolized in rats to 1-(2-pyrimidinyl)piperazine (1-PP) which accumulated in the brain. Neither the route of administration (i.p. or p.o.), nor prolonged administration of ipsapirone or 1-PP affected their accumulation in the rat brain. The cytochrome P450 level and ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity in rat liver microsomes were unchanged by chronic treatment with ipsapirone or 1-PP. The results indicate that 1-PP may contribute to the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonism of ipsapirone in rats and that chronic treatment with the drug does not affect its biotransformation to 1-PP.