Purpose. The present study was conducted to characterize the pharmacokinetics of eplerenone (EP), a selective aldosterone receptor antagonist, and its open lactone ring form in the dog. Methods. Pharmacokinetic studies of EP were conducted in dogs following i.v., oral, and rectal dosing (15 mg/kg) and following intragastric, intraduodenal, intrajejunal, and intracolonic dosing (7.5 mg/kg). Results. After oral administration, the systemic availability of EP was 79.2%. Systemic availabilities following administration via other routes were similar to that following oral administration. The half-life and plasma clearance of EP were 2.21 hr and 0.329 l/kg/hr, respectively. Plasma concentrations of the open lactone ring form were lower than EP concentrations regardless of the route of administration. The C-14 AUC in red blood cells was approximately 64% and 68% of the plasma AUC for i.v. and oral doses. Percentages of the dose excreted as total radioactivity in urine and feces were 54.2% and 40.6%, respectively, after i.v. administration, and 40.7% and 52.3%, respectively, after oral administration. The percentages of the dose excreted in urine and feces as EP were 13.7% and 2.5%, respectively, after i.v, administration, and 2.1% and 4.6% after oral administration, respectively. Approximately 11% and 15% of the doses were excreted as the open form following i.v. and oral doses. Conclusions. EP was rapidly and efficiently absorbed throughout the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a good systemic availability. The drug did not preferentially accumulate in red blood cells. EP was extensively metabolized; however, first-pass metabolism after oral and rectal administration was minimal. EP and its metabolites appear to be highly excreted in the bile.
