Nocardicin A, a new monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic VI. Absorption, excretion and tissue distribution in animals

The absorption, excretion and tissue distribution of nocardicin A, a new monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic, were studied in various animals. When nocardicin A was given intramuscularly in single doses of 20 mg/kg to rats, rabbits, and dogs, the peak serum levels of nocardicin A were about 1.6 similar to 2.8 times higher than those of carbenicillin in all animals though the levels varied among the species tested. The serum half-life of nocardicin A in these animals was about twice that of carbenicillin. The 24-hour urinary recovery rate of nocardicin A after intramuscular injection was 68.5 percent in rabbits and 77.0 percent in dogs, but was low in rats; i.e., 0.7 percent. When nocardicin A was given intravenously in single doses of 20 mg/kg to these animals, the peak serum levels varied widely among the test species; i.e. about 3 times higher than those of carbenicillin in rabbits and dogs, similar to those in rats. The peak serum and tissue levels of nocardicin A after intramuscular to intravenous injection were the highest in the kidneys, followed by the liver, serum, lungs, heart and spleen. The levels in the liver were prolonged. Nocardicin A, and traces of unknown substances less active than nocardicin A were observed as active substances in the urine recovered after injection of nocardicin A.