Effects of Short-Term Treatment with Recombinant Human Growth Hormone on Carbamazepine Pharmacokinetics in Rats

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of Carbamazepine (CBZ) in rats during growth hormone treatment.Methods: Recombinant Human Growth Hormone (rhGH) was injected subcutaneously at a daily dose of 0.1 mg/ kg, 2 mg/kg, or phosphate buffered saline (control) for 5 days in male Sprague-Dawley rats. On day 6, a dose of 25 mg/kg of CBZ was injected intravenously via a jugular vein cannula into the rat. Growth rate were compared between treatment groups. The pharmacokinetics of CBZ was determined from its concentrations in rats' blood and urinary samples.Results: Over the 5-day treatment period, growth rate were greater than control for the 2 mg/kg rhGH dosed group. The volume of distribution (V ss ) was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the high dosed rhGH rats compared to the control group. Total body clearance (CL) in the 2 mg/kg rhGH group was also significantly (p<0.05) decreased compared with the control group (0.497 ± 0.076 L/hr/kg vs 0.685 ± 0.109 L/hr/kg). Urinary data showed that renal and metabolic clearances were both significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the 2 mg/kg rhGH group. Conclusions:A dose dependent effect of rhGH was observed on growth rates and CBZ pharmacokinetics in rats. After 5 days rhGH treatment, the volume of distribution of CBZ was significantly changed in the 2 mg/kg/day rhGH treated groups. In the 2 mg rhGH/kg treated rats, both renal and metabolic clearance of CBZ were also significantly decreased compared with the control group. Similar decreases in volume of distribution and both clearances may suggest the interaction may involve increased CBZ plasma protein binding during rhGH treatment in rats.