Pharmacokinetics of gentamicin in the horse.
Abstract: The pharmacokinetics of gentamicin were studied in six healthy mature horses of mixed breeding and of both sexes. A parenteral preparation of gentamicin sulfate (5% aqueous solution) was administered rapidly (IV) at the dosage level of 5 mg/kg of body weight. Venous blood samples were taken at 0 (base line), 0.083, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after gentamicin administration. Serum gentamicin was measured by a radioimmunoassay technique. The gentamicin concentration data was fitted to a one- and two-compartment open model with first-order elimination from the central compartment with the aid of nonlinear least squares program. The data were found to be best described by the two-compartment model with r2 = 0.997. Half-life, as determined from the terminal phase was 2.54 +/- 0.33 hours. Calculation of the total body clearance provided a mean of 1.16 +/- 0.11 ml/minute/kg of body weight (1.04 to 1.31 ml/minute/kg, range); the volume of distribution calculated from the area under the curve was determined separately for each animal and had a mean value of 0.254 +/- 0.036 L/kg. The initial exponential decline (alpha) in gentamicin serum concentration had an average value of 3.75 +/- 1.86 hours-1, whereas the terminal values were described by beta = 0.275 +/- 0.036 hours-1. Other pharmacokinetic values determined also are presented.
Publication Date: 1980-03-01 PubMed ID: 7369607
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This study investigates how the antibiotic gentamicin is processed in the bodies of healthy mature horses, with results increasing understanding of the medication’s behaviour within this species.
Understanding Pharmacokinetics
- The field of pharmacokinetics encompasses understanding how drugs move through the body post-administration, which includes processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
- This study focuses specifically on gentamicin, an antibiotic medication usually used to treat severe bacterial infections in both humans and animals.
- Understanding the pharmacokinetic properties of a drug in a specific species assists in establishing effective dosage guidelines.
Study Methodology
- The researchers studied six healthy, mature horses of mixed breed and both genders.
- Each horse was given a dose of gentamicin sulfate—5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight—via intravenous (IV) administration.
- After dosing, blood samples were taken at numerous specific time points up to 120 hours post-administration.
- The concentration of gentamicin in the horse serum was measured using a radioimmunoassay technique, a sensitive method for measuring tiny amounts of substances in the blood.
Application of Models and Results
- The researchers applied both a one-compartment and a two-compartment model to the data and found that the two-compartment model best described the results (with r2 = 0.997), indicating a high level of correlation between observed and predicted values.
- The data showed a half-life of gentamicin in the horses of about 2.54 hours, meaning half of the administered drug is cleared from the body in that time.
- They calculated a mean total body clearance of 1.16 ml/minute/kg, which refers to the body’s efficiency in removing the drug.
- The distribution volume was calculated separately for each horse, with an average of 0.254 L/kg, representing the theoretical volume into which a drug would need to be distributed to achieve the observed blood concentration.
Consideration of the Implications
- This study provides valuable specific information on how gentamicin is processed in horse bodies.
- These findings can contribute towards the establishment of effective dosage guidelines and schedules for administering gentamicin to horses.
- It can also help predict the drug’s effects and levels in the blood over time, which ultimately influences its efficacy and safety in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Pedersoli WM, Belmonte A, Purohit RC, Ravis WR.
(1980).
Pharmacokinetics of gentamicin in the horse.
Am J Vet Res, 41(3), 351-354.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Gentamicins / administration & dosage
- Gentamicins / blood
- Horses / blood
- Injections, Intravenous
- Male
- Models, Biological
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Errecalde JO, Mariño EL. A discriminatory study of a pharmacokinetic model for intramuscular gentamicin in sheep. Vet Res Commun 1990;14(1):53-8.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
