Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of Norfloxacin in Eel Following Oral Gavage

The pharmacokinetics of norfloxacin were investigated in the European eel after a single oral gavage of 10 mg norfloxacin per kg body weight. The concentrations of norfloxacin in the main tissues (kidney, muscle, hepatopancreas and blood) were simultaneously detected by HPLC. All of the concentration-time curves of norfloxacin in the plasma, muscle and liver were consistent with absorption of a two-compartment open kinetic model. Norfloxacin was widely distributed in different tissues in the European eel. Apparent volume of distribution (Vd) was 52.025 L/kg, 34.589 L/kg, 2.795 L/kg, and 0.969 L/kg, in plasma, muscle, liver and kidney, respectively. Norfloxacin in the eel was proved to eliminate slowly, and half-time (tβ1/2) in plasma, muscle, liver and kidney, was 201.222 h, 123.789 h, 120.634 h and 627473.495 h, respectively. Body clearance was 0.689 L / ( kg•h ), 1.793 L/( kg•h ), 0.097 L/( kg•h ) and 0.028 L /( kg•h ), in plasma, muscle, liver and kidney, respectively.