Abstract

The effects of fenbufen on the transport of ciprofloxacin (CPFX) into the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were investigated in rats. Periodically after a bolus i.v. dose of CPFX (10 mg/kg), alone or with fenbufen (20 mg/kg), to rats, aliquots of CSF and blood were collected and then the whole brain was readily excised from the animal after sacrifice by microwave irradiation. Serum levels of CPFX in the terminal phase were significantly elevated by the coadministration with fenbufen. However, the extent of CPFX binding to serum protein was not affected by fenbufen. Immediately after the coadministration with fenbufen, brain and CSF levels of CPFX were raised by about 15 to 70% and 70 to 100%, respectively. Both brain/serum unbound and CSF/serum unbound level ratios were increased by fenbufen at relatively early periods after drug injection. Analysis based on physiological models indicated that fenbufen significantly increased the apparent diffusion clearances of CPFX across blood-brain and blood-CSF barriers. These findings suggest that coadministered fenbufen may facilitate the entry of CPFX into the central nervous system not only by elevation of serum level but also by enhancement of permeability across the blood-brain or blood-CSF barrier.