Cyclosporine a immunosuppression in sheep with response enhancement by concomitant ketoconazole

1. The pharmacokinetics of a single dose of Cyclosporine A (CsA) administered to sheep by intravenous (i.v.) route were examined. 2. Concomitant administration of ketoconazole was found to increase the area under the blood CsA concentration-tine curve (AUG) and was effective when adminstered by the oral or intraperitoneal route. 3. The effects of CsA and ketoconazole on the immune system of sheep were also assessed. 4. A single dose of CsA 5 mg/kg resulted in abrogation of in vitro lymphocyte function manifest at 24 h after injection of CsA. Normal responsiveness recovered in 48-72 h. Numbers of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood were elevated transiently at 48 h although no other significant alteration in lymphocyte subsets was observed with this treatment. 5. Concomitant ketoconazole administration enhanced the CsA-induced suppression of in vitro lymphocyte responses. Blood levels of CsA (AUG values to 24 h) were significantly elevated with concomitant ketoconazole administration and depression of lymphocyte responses to mitogens were also significantly enhanced. An increase in the proportion of T4 positive cells in the blood was observed at 48 h and at 7 days after administration of CsA with ketoconazole. 6. These findings indicate that CsA effectively abrogates immunocompetence in the sheep and this immunosuppressive effect is enhanced by concomitant administration of ketoconazole.