[Chloramphenicol metabolism in the tissues of newborn and adult rabbits].

Abstract

The in vitro studies on the metabolism of chloramphenicol in the liver, kidney and lung of 5 days old and adult rabbit as well as in the placenta (20-23 day of gestation) have been performed. The metabolites have been identified by thin-layer chromatography technique. Nonmetabolized chloramphenicol and reduction product were estimated by spectrophotometric method. The obtained results showed that in adult rabbit chloramphenicol was metabolized in the liver and lung, but no nitroreduction seems to occur in none of these tissues. In contrast to the adult animal the metabolism of chloramphenicol occurred in the all investigated organs of 5 days old rabbit. Each of the examined tissues of newborn animal showed the activity of nitroreductase. The biotransformation, including nitroreduction, of chloramphenicol occurred also in placenta. The thin-layer chromatography technique showed the presence of the product of hydrolysis of amide linkage in the liver of adult rabbit and in the placenta, and in the placenta additionally the product of hydrolysis of amide linkage without aliphatic amine group.