The distribution of antibacterial agents between plasma and lymph in the dog

1. Plasma, peripheral and thoracic lymph concentrations of penicillin V, phenethicillin, carbenicillin, ampicillin, cloxacillin, penicillin G, chloramphenicol and sulphadiazine were determined at various time intervals up to 6 h following intramuscular administration of 50 mg/kg to dogs.2. Peak plasma concentrations of the penicillins occurred within half an hour after administration with the peak lymphatic concentrations occurring 1.5 to 3 h afterwards. For the remaining period of the test the concentration in the lymph exceeded the corresponding concentration in the plasma. Sulphadiazine gave concentrations in thoracic lymph equal to the plasma concentration, but the peripheral lymph concentrations were lower while the concentrations of chloramphenicol in both peripheral and thoracic lymph were always lower than the plasma concentrations.3. After the peak concentrations were reached, the concentration curves for penicillins in lymph followed the same pattern as found in plasma, the penicillin concentrations declining exponentially. Sulphadiazine produced more persistent levels both in lymph and in plasma while the concentrations of chloramphenicol were still rising 6 h after administration.4. The free concentrations of penicillin in lymph were equal to the free concentrations in plasma, whereas the concentrations of free sulphadiazine and chloramphenicol in lymph were less than those in the plasma.