Studies on Elimination of Penicillin G in Dogs. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Bilaterally nephrectomized dogs eliminated penicillin G at a considerable rate from their blood stream after an intravenous injection. This elimination took place at essentially the same rate when either the intestines were removed, or when the common bile duct was ligated and the stomach removed. But no inactivation could be demonstrated after complete evisceration or hepatectomy in nephrectomized animals. A major portion of the injected penicillin was excreted in the bile. Appreciable inactivation was found in the bile, especially in the case of a strongly alkaline bile.

The remaining portion of penicillin may have gone either to the gall bladder, where only a slow but significant resorptaion took place, or to the intestine where it was partially resorbed and partially inactivated. 5

Caution must be exercised in drawing generalized conclusions from these results. Since the nephrectomized dogs do not eat, it seems possible that normal dogs might inactivate certain amounts of penicillin in their intestine because of a greater secretion of digestive juices.