Manabu Matsunaga (1), Yuji Uemura (1), Yuri Yonemoto (1), Kazumi Kanai
(1), Hironori Etoh (1), Shigeru Tanaka (1), Yuji Atsuta (2), Yukio Nishizawa
(1) and Yoshiharu Yamanishi (1)
(1) Eisai Tsukuba Research Laboratories, 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki
300-26, Japan
(2) Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Asahikawa Medical College, 4-5-3-11
Nishikagura, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078, Japan
Abstract: Potency and duration of muscle relaxant activity of
eperisone hydrochloride were examined after percutaneous administration
in the intercollicular decerebrated rat rigidity model and compared to those
of eperisone after intravenous injection. A continuous movement was loaded
on the hindlimb of the rat model to maintain stable rigidity. The tonus
of the hindlimb was recorded by EMG from the triceps surae and was quantified
by using the public domain NIH Image program. Eperisone ointment administered
percutaneously showed significant muscle relaxant activity at 8.4 cm2 (4.2
mg of eperisone)/rat. The effect was dose-dependent and lasted over 60 min.
Intravenously injected eperisone showed significant activity at 1.25 mg/kg,
but the decrease of tone was lost within 30 min after injection. Plasma
eperisone levels were monitored in the same model, and they were well correlated
to the dosage. These results suggest that percutaneously administered eperisone
is absorbed efficiently and shows potent and long-lasting muscle relaxant
activity.
Keywords: Percutaneous administration, Eperisone hydrochloride, Intercollicular
decerebrated rat rigidity model, NIH Image program, Muscle relaxant activity