Steady-state plasma levels of nortriptyline in twins: Influence of genetic factors and drug therapy

Nineteen identical (monozygotic) and 20 fraternal (dizygotic) sets of twins between 45 and 51 years of age were given nortriptyline orally in doses of 0·2 mg./kg. body weight three times daily for eight days. The steady-state plasma concentrations of nortriptyline were calculated from the mean of the determinations for days 6, 7, and 8. Identical twins, not treated with other drugs, achieved similar steady-state plasma concentrations of nortriptyline in contrast to fraternal twins who were not given other drugs. The intrapair similarity in steady-state plasma concentrations was not found in identical twins simultaneously treated with various drugs during the experiment. Identical and fraternal twins treated with drugs containing barbiturates had considerably lower steady-state plasma concentrations of nortriptyline compared with untreated twins.It is concluded that most of the variability in nor-triptyline steady-state plasma concentration between persons who have not received drugs is genetically determined. Exposure to other drugs also influences the steady-state plasma concentration of nortriptyline, which in a given patient may therefore be determined by a resultant of genetic and environmental factors.     

Active Mammary Excretion of N4-Acetylated Sulphanilamide

After administration of sulphanilamide to goats and cows, sulphanilamide is excreted into milk. The concentrations of sulphanilamide in ultrafiltrate of milk (M. Ultr.) and blood plasma (P. Ultr.) are equal and the ratio M. Ultr./P. Ultr. is 1.0. The pKa of sulphanilamide is 10.4 and thus, sulphanilamide is un-ionized in both milk and blood plasma. Therefore, sulphanilamide is excreted into milk in accordance to the theory of passive diffusion of the non-protein-bound and un-ionized fraction in blood plasma (Rasmussen 1958, 1966; Miller et al. 1967). A similar ratio was expected for acetylated sulphanilamide with a pKa of 10.3. However, the concentration of the acetylated derivative is always found higher in milk than in plasma. This might be due to formation of acetylated sulphanilamide in the mammary tissue, as demonstrated by Rasmussen & Linzell (1967) or active excretion of the compound just as in the case of N4-acetylated p-aminohip-puric acid (Rasmussen 1969).     

Nucleic Acid Metabolism During Cytokinin Induced Cellular Differentiation

Edstrom's microphoresis technique has been employed to determine the quantitative alterations in nucleic acid content and base composition of individual cells associated with the initiation of bud primordia in Funaria hygrometrica. The filamentous protonema of this moss initiates bud cells which through repeated divisions form the leafy gametophores. The cytokinin, 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin), was used to induce the differentiation of bud cells from protonematal cells. The total RNA content of kinetin-induced bud cells (22.0 μμg/cell) was nearly 15 times that of protonematal cells (1.6 μμg/cell). The same dramatic increase in total RNA was apparent in bud cells which developed spontaneously in older cultures. As would be predicted, the adenine (A) to guanine (G) ratio for DNA from bud and protonematal cells was identical (0.7). The A:G ratio for RNA from bud cells (1.0) was much lower than that from protonematal cells (1.7). Thus, kinetin-induced differentiation in this system involves a dramatic increase in total RNA, the base composition of which approaches that of DNA. The base composition (A:G ratio) of DNA remains constant.     

Relationship between Plasma Level and Therapeutic Effect of Nortriptyline

The relationship between plasma concentration of nortriptyline and therapeutic effect after two weeks'' treatment with the drug was investigated in 29 psychiatric inpatients. Endogenous depression was diagnosed in all patients. Amelioration of depressive symptoms was estimated as reduction in score on a rating scale, based on a psychiatric interview. Amelioration was not correlated to the patient''s sex or age. There was a curved relationship between plasma level of nortriptyline and therapeutic effect. Amelioration was most pronounced in the intermediate plasma level range (50-139 ng nortriptyline/ml plasma) and was slight both at lower and at higher plasma levels. This type of relationship may be due to the dual action of tricyclic antidepressants which has been found in animal experiments. On larger dosages a phenothiazine-like blockade of the monoaminergic receptor is added to the blockade of monoamine reuptake thought to be related to the antidepressant action of the drugs.This study thus suggests two possible reasons for a therapeutic failure with nortriptyline: a too low or a too high plasma level. The large individual variation in the pharmacokinetics of the tricyclic antidepressants makes prediction of plasma level from dosage in a given individual virtually impossible without knowledge of rate of elimination and apparent volume of distribution. Hence monitoring plasma levels may be a way to increase the efficacy of treatment with these drugs.     

Distribution of Sulphonamides in the Mammary Gland of Cows After Intramammary and Intravenous Application

In experiments on cows it has been shown that addition of the tracer dye, Food Green No. 4, to intramammary preparations containing sulphonamide by inspection of cut surfaces directly demonstrates the galactogenic dispersion. By sulphonamide reaction on the cut surface of the udder and quantitative chemical determinations of both the dye and sulphonamide on pieces of gland tissue an identical distribution of the two components has been found. In normal as well as in glands with chronic indurative mastitis an uneven distribution after intramammary infusion has been found. After simultaneous intramammary application of vehicles for sulphonamide intramammary injections containing Food Green No. 4 and intravenous injection of sulphonamide, an uneven distribution of the intramammary preparation but an uniform distribution of the parenterally injected sulphonamide was demonstrated. The results obtained are discussed in relation to the treatment of mastitis in cows and it is concluded that the blockage of the galactogenic dispersion of intramammary infusions by the pathological changes in acute as well as chronic mastitis, indicate systemic treatment with distribution of the drugs by the vascular route.     

Preparation of benzoyl dextran and its use in aqueous two-phase systems.

The graft modification of dextran with benzoyl groups has been studied. The factors that affect the degree of substitution of benzoyl dextran were investigated. Phase diagrams for aqueous two-phase systems composed of polyethylene glycol/benzoyl dextran and dextran/benzoyl dextran have been determined. Phase separation was also obtained in aqueous solution of two benzoyl dextran polymers with different degrees of substitution. A four-phase system was obtained with a mixture of polyethylene glycol, dextran and two kinds of benzoyl dextrans. The partitioning of methylene blue and a Procion yellow HE-3G dextran derivative were studied in polyethylene glycol/benzoyl dextran and dextran/benzoyl dextran two-phase systems and in systems of two benzoyl dextrans differing in degree of substitution. The proteins bovine serum albumin and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were partitioned in polyethylene glycol/benzoyl dextran aqueous two-phase systems and the effect of the degree of substitution of benzoyl dextran was studied. Chlorella pyrenoidosa, thylakoid membrane vesicles, plasma membrane vesicles and chloroplasts were partitioned in polyethylene glycol/benzoyl dextran and dextran/benzoyl dextran two-phase systems, and in a polyethylene glycol/dextran/benzoyl dextran four-phase system.