The role of p-glycoprotein in limiting brain penetration of the peripherally acting anticholinergic overactive bladder drug trospium chloride

Drug Metab Dispos. 2009 Jul;37(7):1371-4. doi: 10.1124/dmd.109.027144. Epub 2009 Apr 23.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to characterize the role of the drug-efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) for the disposition of trospium chloride, a widely used anticholinergic drug for the treatment of overactive bladder. P-gp-deficient mdr1a,b(-/-) knockout mice were given either 1 mg/kg trospium chloride orally or 1 mg/kg intravenously to analyze brain penetration, intestinal secretion, and hepatobiliary excretion of the drug. The concentrations of trospium chloride in the brain were up to 7 times higher in the mdr1a,b(-/-) knockout mice compared with wild-type mice (p < 0.05), making P-gp a limiting factor for the blood-brain barrier penetration of this drug. Moreover, the residence time of the drug in the central nervous system was significantly prolonged in mdr1a,b(-/-) knockout mice. Apart from the blood-brain barrier, P-gp also had significant effects on the overall pharmacokinetics of trospium chloride. In the mdr1a,b(-/-) knockout mice, hepatobiliary excretion and intestinal secretion were significantly reduced compared with the wild-type mice. Our study indicates that the multidrug resistance transporter P-gp is a major determinant for the distribution of trospium chloride in the body and highly restricts its entry into the brain.

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Benzilates
  • Biological Transport / drug effects*
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiology
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Carbon Radioisotopes / metabolism
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Intestine, Small / drug effects
  • Intestine, Small / metabolism
  • Male
  • Metabolic Clearance Rate
  • Mice*
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nortropanes / pharmacology*
  • Nortropanes / urine
  • Tissue Distribution / drug effects
  • Urinary Bladder, Overactive / metabolism*

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • Benzilates
  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Glycoproteins
  • Nortropanes
  • trospium chloride