Abstract
Conclusion
The antibiotic, subtilin, has been administered to rabbits in a variety of ways, with analyses of blood to determine absorption. The bioassay procedures are described.
Because of precipitation in physiological fluids, injection into subcutaneous tissue, muscle or peritoneal cavity is an ineffective way of reaching bacteristatic levels of subtilin in the blood stream. Administration by mouth or per rectum is likewise unsatisfactory.
A single injection intravenously is accompanied by some danger and gives a blood level of subtilin which is not maintained. A satisfactory level can be maintained, at least for 4 hours, by slow intravenous infusion, without apparent harm to the animal.
A subtilin-pectin complex, which temporarily allows more subtilin to be soluble in physiological saline, a methyl ester of subtilin which is likewise more soluble and which possesses greater antibiotic activity, and a second methyl ester which is much more soluble, are all absorbed in amounts similar to that of unmodified subtilin.
No observations were made which would contraindicate the topical application of subtilin.
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