Pharmacokinetic profile of paraquat following intravenous administration to the rabbit

Pharmacokinetic studies of paraquat in rabbits were performed using [methyl-14C]-paraquat. Plasma concentration of paraquat following i.v. administration to the rabbit was fitted to a 3-exponential function of pharmacokinetic analysis. Distribution and elimination were discussed on the basis of the 3-compartment open model system, which has a central and two peripheral compartments. Computer simulations of paraquat levels in each compartment indicated that the slow-uptake peripheral compartment contained a greater amount of paraquat than the central or the fast-uptake peripheral compartment. On the basis of the present results of the computer simulations in company with tissue distributions of paraquat reported by the other investigators, it is likely that the slow-uptake peripheral compartment contains the lung. In cases of paraquat-induced renal failures, the paraquat levels of the slow-uptake peripheral compartment were remarkably higher than in cases of normal renal functions. Histology of the rabbit tissues 7 days after i.v. administration of paraquat revealed that marked changes were observed only in the kidney, suggesting some renal failures induced by paraquat. In spite of the high concentration of paraquat, which was presumed with the computer simulations in this study, the rabbit lung showed a remarkable resistance to paraquat toxicity. The histology studies suggested the complexities of paraquat toxicity to the rabbit. The lung toxicity in the rabbit would be caused by not only the paraquat concentration in the lung but also some biochemical parameters in the tissue related to the mechanisms of paraquat toxicity.