Cyclosporine absorption in apancreatic dogs

The plasma concentration time course of orally administered cyclosporine was studied in apancreatic dogs with established islet autografts and compared with that in normal control dogs. After oral administration of cyclosporine (20 mg/kg), blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours, and the plasma cyclosporine concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. The plasma level of cyclosporine increased promptly in both groups after dosing. Peak plasma concentrations ranged from 435 to 1,542 ng/ml and were attained at between 2 and 6 hours in the apancreatic dogs, and concentrations from 602 to 4,414 ng/ml were attained at between 1 and 6 hours in the control dogs. Even though there was substantial variation among animals, the plasma concentration curve of the apancreatic group was quite comparable with that of the control group. The Student's test for unpaired data failed to show any significant differences over the time course. Area under the concentration-time curves, maximum concentration, and times of peak concentration were calculated. These data demonstrated the capacity of apancreatic dogs with islet autografts to absorb cyclosporine when they are stable, nutritionally normal, and have full endocrine reconstitution.