In vivo microdialysis to determine the relative pharmacokinetics of drugs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a simultaneous microdialysis method in blood and brain striatum to determine the relative pharmacokinetics and metabolism of L-3,4-dihydroxypenylalanine (L-dopa). L-Dopa (250 mumol/kg) was administered to rats with or without the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) inhibitor carbidopa (25 mumol/kg) or benserazide (25 or 62.5 mumol/kg). L-Dopa, its metabolites, and AADC inhibitors in dialysates were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with an electrochemical detector. A moment analysis was also made to obtain pharmacokinetic parameters. After administration of L-dopa alone, it and its related metabolites were detected in both dialysates of blood and brain striatum. Coadministration of carbidopa (25 mumol/kg) or benserazide (62.5 mumol/kg) significantly enhanced the striatal amount of L-dopa by 8.0 and 6.1 times, respectively. Carbidopa and benserazide also increased striatal amounts of L-dopa metabolites, such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol. Inhibition effect of benserazide on an extracerebral decarboxylation of L-dopa to dopamine (DA) was stronger than that of carbidopa. Carbidopa showed a higher striatal level of DA than benserazide. These results suggest a different effect of the two inhibitors on the DA formations in blood and brain striatum, and on the L-dopa transport through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Thus, microdialysis is an easy and available method for simultaneously assessing the in vivo relative pharmacokinetics and metabolism of drugs in systemic circulation and a target organ.