Tissue distribution of benzylpenicillin after intramammary administration in the isolated perfused bovine udder

Udders from previously healthy lactating cows were perfused with warmed and gassed Tyrode solution in vitro. Benzylpenicillin was administered in three formulations: an oily suspension with micronized particles of < 10 <mu>m diameter, an oily suspension with average particle size of 40 mum and an aqueous solution (3 million IU benzylpenicillin-potassium, volume 15 mL). The antibiotics were administered intracisternally to six front and six rear quarters each. Moreover, a dry-off-ointment (100000 IU benzylpenicillin-potassium and 100000 IU benzylpenicillin-benzathine, volume 7.5 mL) was tested in four udder halves. Perfusate samples were collected over 3 h. Furthermore, glandular tissue at different vertical distances from the teat base and the regional lymph node were sampled after 3 h. The determination of benzylpenicillin was performed by high pressure liquid chromatography with UV detection. With increasing distance from the teat base, the concentration of benzylpenicillin in tissue exponentially decreased. Using the aqueous solution or oily suspension that contained micronized active principle, higher concentrations were reached compared to the formulation with particle sizes of 40 mum. In udder lymph nodes, the concentration was highest after treatment with the coarse suspension. The transfer from the dry-off-ointment with benzathine-salt into perfusate was very low. These results suggest that it is possible to study tissue distribution of antibiotics in the isolated perfused bovine udder.