Trans-epithelial intestinal elimination of moxifloxacin in rabbits

The intestinal trans-epithelial elimination of moxifloxacin was measured in the jejunum, ileum, caecum and in the bile in a rabbit model. Over a 120 m in period following a single parenteral administration of moxifloxacin 15 m g/kg, peak serum concentration was 3.1 (+/- 1.1) mg/L. The elimination cons tants were: 0.019 (+/- 0.017) mu g/cm(2)/min, 0.011 (+/- 0.014) mu g/cm(2)/ min and 0.002 (+/- 0.002) mu g/cm(2)/min in the jejunum, ileum and caecum, respectively, Per loop, over 120 min, the respective eliminated quantities were: 9.59 (+/- 9.37) mu g, 8.26 (+/- 6.74) mu g and 1.92 (+/- 1.86) mu g. Biliary moxifloxacin concentrations varied between 1.30 and 5.16 mg/L and e xceeded serum levels from 45 min onwards, Intestinal concentrations paralle led serum moxifloxacin levels. Altogether, approximately 4.5% of the moxifl oxacin dose was eliminated trans-epithelially in the digestive tract over t he 120 min experimental period.