The pharmacokinetics of dabigatran in a rat model of hyperlipidemia induced by poloxamer 407.

Various pharmacokinetic changes have been reported in experimental hyperlipidemic (HL) animal models. To evaluate whether P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity was affected in HL rats, we assessed the pharmacokinetics of dabigatran after oral administration of dabigatran etexilate (DABE); this is a dabigatran prodrug and a well-known P-gp substrate.HL and control rats exhibited similar area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), total body clearance (CL), and steady state volume of distribution (Vss) values following intravenous administration of dabigatran (1 mg/kg). This suggested that the distribution and elimination of dabigatran were similar in control and HL rats.The hepatic and intestinal P-gp protein levels did not differ significantly between control and HL rats. The dabigatran AUC and extent of absolute oral bioavailability (F) values were similar in control and HL rats following oral administration of DABE (10 mg/kg as dabigatran). Therefore, there was no apparent change in intestinal P-gp activity in HL rats compared to control rats.This study revealed no significant change in P-gp expression or activity in the intestine or liver of HL rats, and similar pharmacokinetics of dabigatran. Hyperlipidemia may not directly affect the oral absorption of P-gp substrate drugs.