PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Sukyung Woo AU - Wojciech Krzyzanski AU - William J. Jusko TI - Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin after Intravenous and Subcutaneous Administration in Rats AID - 10.1124/jpet.106.111377 DP - 2006 Dec 01 TA - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics PG - 1297--1306 VI - 319 IP - 3 4099 - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/319/3/1297.short 4100 - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/319/3/1297.full SO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther2006 Dec 01; 319 AB - The pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) were studied in rats after single i.v. and s.c. administration at three dose levels (450, 1350, and 4050 IU/kg). The plasma concentrations of rHuEPO and its erythropoietic effects including reticulocyte (RET), red blood cell (RBC), and hemoglobin (Hb) levels were determined. A two-compartment model with dual input rate and nonlinear disposition was used to characterize the PK of rHuEPO. The catenary indirect response model with several compartments reflecting the bone marrow and circulating erythropoietic cells was applied. The s.c. doses exhibited slow absorption (Tmax = 12 h) and incomplete bioavailability (F = 0.59). In placebo groups, RBC and Hb values gradually increased over time with growth of the rats, and the changes in the baselines monitored from 8 to 32 weeks of age were described by a nonlinear growth function. All doses resulted in dose-dependent increases in RET counts followed by an immediate decline below the baseline at around 6 days and returned to the predose level in 21–24 days after dosing. A subsequent steady increase of RBC and Hb levels followed and reached peaks at 6 days. A tolerance phenomenon observed at all dose levels was modeled by a negative feedback inhibition with the relative change in Hb level. The PK/PD model well described the erythropoietic effects of rHuEPO as well as tolerance, thereby yielding important PD parameters (Smax = 1.87 and SC50 = 65.37 mIU/ml) and mean lifespans of major erythropoietic cell populations in rats.