Effects of age and dose on disposition and metabolism of salicylic acid in male Fischer 344 rats

TF McMahon, JJ Diliberto and LS Birnbaum

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Division of Toxicology Research and Testing, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.

Salicylic acid (SAL)-induced nephrotoxicity has been reported to be greater in older rats. To examine age- and dose-related changes in disposition and metabolism, male Fischer 344 rats aged 3, 12, and 25 months were administered single doses of 14C-SAL at 5,50, and 500 mg/kg po. At 5 mg 14C-SAL/kg, urinary excretion of 14C-SAL derived radioactivity (RA) followed first-order kinetics and was complete by 24 hr in 3- and 25-month-old rats, but not until 48 hr in 12-month-old rats. The percentage of administered 14C-SAL excreted as the oxidative metabolites 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3- and 2,5-diOH), unmetabolized SAL, or salicyl ester glucuronide (SA-AG) was unchanged with age. The percentage excreted as the ether glucuronide (SA-PC) was significantly decreased in 25-month-old rats, while the percentage excreted as the glycine conjugate, salicyluric acid (SUA) was significantly increased in 12- and 25-month-old rats. At 50 mg SAL/kg, urinary elimination shifted toward zero-order kinetics and was not complete until 48 hr in all age groups. The percentage of an administered dose of 14C-SAL found in urine as 2,3- and 2,5-diOH and SA- AG increased significantly in all age groups, while the percentage excreted as SUA decreased significantly. Twelve- and 25-month-old rats excreted a significantly greater percentage of the total dose as 2,3- and 2,5-diOH than 3-month-old rats at this dose. No SA-PG was detected at this dose in any age group. At 500 mg SAL/kg, mortality was observed in both 3- and 25-month-old rats and excretion of SAL-derived RA in urine was incomplete at 48 hr. However, data indicated a further shift in biotransformation toward increased production of oxidative metabolites and a decrease in SUA production. No significant overall differences were observed between 3- and 25-month-old rats in plasma levels of 14C-SAL following iv administration of 5 and 50 mg SAL/kg. However, elimination half-life (t1/2) was significantly increased in 25- month-old rats at 5 mg SAL/kg vs. 3-month-old rats. These results indicate that the age-related increase in acute nephrotoxicity of SAL may result from increased production of oxidative metabolites in older rats at higher doses of SAL.

Volume 18, Issue 4, pp. 494-503, 07/01/1990
Copyright © 1990 by American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics