Aim: Liver failure is associated with dyshomeostasis of efflux transporters at the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which contributes to hepatic encephalopathy. In this study we examined whether breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), a major efflux transporter at the BBB, was altered during liver failure in rats. Methods: Rats underwent bile duct ligation (BDL) surgery, and then were sacrificed after intravenous injection of prazosin on d3, d7 and d14. The brains and blood samples were collected. BCRP function at the BBB was assessed by the brain-to-plasma prazosin concentration ratio; Evans Blue extravasation in the brain tissues was used as an indicator of BBB integrity. The protein levels of BCRP in the brain tissues were detected. Human cerebral microvessel endothelial cells (HCMEC/D3) and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells expressing human BCRP (MDCK-BCRP) were tested in vitro. In addition, hyperbilirubinemia (HB) was induced in rats by intravenous injection of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB). Results: BDL rats exhibited progressive decline of liver function and HB from d3 to d14. In the brain tissues of BDL rats, both the function and protein levels of BCRP were progressively decreased, whereas the BBB integrity was intact. Furthermore, BDL rat serum significantly decreased BCRP function and protein levels in HCMEC/D3 cells. Among the abnormally altered components in BDL rat serum tested, UCB (10, 25 µmol/L) dose-dependently inhibit BCRP function and protein levels in HCMEC/D3 cells, whereas 3 bile acids (CDCA, UDCA and DCA) had no effect. Similar results were obtained in MDCK-BCRP cells and in the brains of HB rats. Correlation analysis revealed that UCB levels were negatively correlated with BCRP expression in the brain tissues of BDL rats and HB rats as well as in two types of cells tested in vitro. Conclusion: UCB elevation in BDL rats impairs the function and expression of BCRP at the BBB, thus contributing to hepatic encephalopathy.

We once reported that P-glycoprotein (P-GP) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) were oppositely regulated at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) of thioacetamideinduced acute liver failure (ALF) rats. This study aimed to investigate whether ALF affected function and expression of breast cancer-resistant protein (BCRP) at the BBB of rats and the role of ammonia in the regulation. ALF rats were developed by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of thioacetamide (300 mg/kg) for 2 days. Hyperammonemic rats were developed by NH 4 Ac (i.p. 4.5 mmol/kg). BCRP function and expression were measured by brain distribution of specific substrates (prazosin and methotrexate) and western blot, respectively. MDCK-BCRP cells and primarily cultured rat brain microvessel endothelial cells (rBMECs) were employed to investigate possible mechanisms through which ammonia regulated BCRP function and expression. The results showed that both ALF and hyperammonemia significantly weakened function and expression of BCRP in the brain of rats. The function and expression of BCRP in MDCK-BCRP cells and rBMECs were strikingly decreased after exposure to NH 4 Cl and H 2 O 2 , accompanied by remarkable increases in the levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The altered BCRP expression and function by ammonia and H 2 O 2 were restored by ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine and ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126. Markedly increased levels of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and ROS were found in the brains of ALF rats and hyperammonemic rats. All above results indicated ALF down-regulated expression and function of BCRP at BBB of rats partly via hyperammonemia. Activation of ROS-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation may be one of the reasons that ammonia impaired BCRP expression and function at the BBB. Keywords: acute liver failure, blood-brain barrier, breast cancer resistance protein, hyperammonemia, reactive oxygen species.

Aim: Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which may cause serious intestinal adverse reactions (enteropathy). In this study we investigated whether co-administration of ciprofloxacin affected the pharmacokinetics of diclofenac and diclofenacinduced enteropathy in rats. Methods: The pharmacokinetics of diclofenac was assessed in rats after receiving diclofenac (10 mg/kg, ig, or 5 mg/kg, iv), with or without ciprofloxacin (20 mg/kg, ig) co-administered. After receiving 6 oral doses or 15 intravenous doses of diclofenac, the rats were sacrificed, and small intestine was removed to examine diclofenac-induced enteropathy. β-Glucuronidase activity in intestinal content, bovine liver and E coli was evaluated. Results: Following oral or intravenous administration, the pharmacokinetic profile of diclofenac displayed typical enterohepatic circulation, and co-administration of ciprofloxacin abolished the enterohepatic circulation, resulted in significant reduction in the plasma content of diclofenac. In control rats, β-glucuronidase activity in small intestinal content was region-dependent: proximal intestine

1. Atorvastatin is frequently prescribed for lowering blood cholesterol and for prevention of events associated with cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin in diabetic rats. 2. Diabetes was induced in rats by combination of high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin (35 mg/kg). Plasma concentrations of atorvastatin following oral (10 mg/kg) and intravenous (2 mg/kg) administrations to rats were measured by LC-MS. Metabolism and uptake of atorvastatin in primary hepatocytes of experimental rats were assessed. Protein expressions and activities of hepatic Cyp3a and Oatp2 were further investigated. 3. Clearances of atorvastatin in diabetic rats following oral and intravenous administrations were remarkably increased, leading to marked decreases in area-under-the-plasma concentration-time curve (AUC). The estimated oral and systematic clearances of atorvastatin in diabetic rats were 4.5-fold and 2.0-fold of control rats, respectively. Metabolism and uptake of atorvastatin in primary hepatocytes isolated from diabetic rats were significantly increased, which were consistent with the up-regulated protein expressions and activities of hepatic Cyp3a and Oatp2. 4. All these results demonstrated that the plasma exposure of atorvastatin was significantly decreased in diabetic rats, which was partly due to the up-regulated activities and expressions of both hepatic Cyp3a and Oatp2.

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