• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2000

To evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties and tissue distribution of a newly developed recombinant human erythropoietin (GC-rhEPO), we analyzed the plasma and tissue levels of erythropoietin by an ELISA after intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) adminstration to the male rats at the doses of 20, 100, 500 or 2,500 unit/kg. After single IV bolus injection of GC-rhEPO, the plasma concentration was rapidly increased and decreased with two phases with half-lives of 13.4 min and 2.94 hours. AUC was increased dose- dependently but plasma half-lives remained constant regardless of GC-rhEPO doses. Following SC administration, the plasma concentration increased slowly with half-life of 9.2 hours and reached peak at 8 hours. Mean residence time and bioavailability were 18.2 hours and 44%, respectively. After single IV dose of 100 unit/kg, tissue GC-rhEPO level was higher in bone marrow and spleen, while the depletion rate was slower in liver and bone marrow, indicating the higher affinity of GC-rhEPO to bone marrow. Taken together, the experimental results indicate that GC-rhEPO contained the typical pharmacokinetic properties and the tissue distribution patterns inherent to human erythropoietin.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.184-193
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• 2000

To evaluate GC-rhEPO, human erythropoietin produced by recombinant DNA technique, its general pharmacological properties were investigated in experimental animals administering intravenously and in vitro test system. GC-rhEPO at doses of 70,700 and 7,000 IU/kg body weight had no influence on general behavior, spontaneous motor activity, thiopental-inducted sleeping time, writhing syndrome induced by acetic acid, strychnine-induced convulsions, charchoal meal propulsion in mice, and body temperature, gastric juice secretion, urine and electrolyte excretion in rats. In anesthetized rabbits, GC-rhEPO (70, 700 and 7,000 lU/kg, i.v.) did not alter respiratory rate, blood pressure, heat rate. In in vitro experiments, GC-rhEPO did not affect the contractions of the isolated ileum of guinea pigs and the muscle twitchs of isolated neuromuscular junction of the rats. In addition, GC-rhEPO did not affect the blood coagulation time and ADP-induced platelet aggregation in plasma of rabbits. Taken together, these results indicate that GC-rhEPO does not induce any adverse effects in the experimental animals.