Permeability of nitroimidazoles in rat cortex

The right cerebral hemisphere of the rat was perfused in situ by retrograde bolus infusion of some nitroimidazole drugs into the external carotid artery. The right jugular vein served to collect blood samples. Drugs were continuously measured in the right cortex by microvoltametric electrodes and in blood samples by high-performance liquid chromatography during a few minutes. Cerebrovascular permeability coefficients of six nitroimidazoles ranged from 0.8 X 10(-4) to 3 X 10(-6) cm X s-1 and were directly proportional to the octanol-water partition coefficient of the solute. Thus, microvoltametry is a new method to study cerebrovascular transfer in the rat of electroactive antibiotics.