PHARMACOKINETICS OF AMPICILLIN ADMINISTERED INTRAVENOUSLY AND INTRAOSSEOUSLY TO KITTENS

An aqueous solution of ampicillin sodium (100 mg ml(-1)) was administe red intravenously and intraosseously to six kitten at 50 mg kg(-1) in a crossover study. Jugular vein blood samples were taken at intervals up to eight hours after treatment and the serum ampicillin concentrati on-time data, derived from a microbiological assay, were analysed phar macokinetically. The disposition kinetics of ampicillin administered b y the two routes were very similar. The mean elimination half-life (t( 1/2 beta)), the area-derived volume of distribution (V-area) and the t otal body clearance (Cl-B) values after the intravenous and intraosseo us treatment were 86.3 and 79.0 minutes, 0.9 and 0.8 litre kg(-1) and 7.3 and 7.6 ml min(-1) kg(-1), respectively. No side-effects related t o the intraosseous administration of the drug were observed.