Carrier-mediated hepatic uptake of the cationic cyclopeptide, octreotide, in rats: Comparison between in vivo and in vitro

The plasma concentration and biliary excretion profiles of a cationic cyclic octapeptide, octreotide, were compared between control rats and rats given an intravenous infusion of a bile acid, taurocholate (TCA), and an organic anion, dibromosulfophthalein (DBSP). Both TCA and DBSP reduced the plasma elimination end biliary excretion of octreotide after its intravenous bolus administration. Two mechanisms accounting for this phenomenon were considered a priori: decreased hepatic uptake from blood to liver and decreased biliary excretion from liver to bile. The tissue uptake clearance (CL(up)) of octreotide in plasma and several tissues was determined, and extensive uptake of octreotide (0.20 ml/min/g liver) was observed only in liver. The kinetic analysis indicated that CL(up) in liver fell to 10% of controls after administration of both TCA and DBSP. To compare CL(up) between in vivo and in vitro, the initial velocity of octreotide uptake by isolated hepatocytes end primary cultured hepatocytes was measured. The estimated kinetic parameters K(M) and V(max) were ~100 μM and 200 pmol/min/10⁶ cells in both systems, respectively. Hepatic uptake clearance estimated from the in vitro data was comparable with that observed in vivo. Biliary excretion of octreotide is reduced in Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats (EHBRs), which have a heredity defect of multispecific organic anion transporter on the bile canalicular membrane, compared with that of Sprague-Dawley rats. The kinetic analysis demonstrated that the hepatic uptake was reduced in EHBRs. The uptake study using primary cultured hepatocytes suggested that a high level of unidentified endogenous substrate(s) in EHBR plasma may be responsible for the reduction of hepatic uptake of octreotide in EHBRs. In conclusion, we have demonstrated in vivo that carrier-mediated hepatic uptake of octreotide is inhibited by TCA and DBSP and that the CL(up) obtained in vivo is comparable with the CL(up) obtained in vitro in isolated hepatocytes and primary cultured hepatocytes.