Facilitation of pulmonary insulin absorption by H-MAP: Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in rats

Purpose. Several low molecular weight amino acids have previously been reported to enable the oral delivery of proteins. In the present studies, the effect of H-MAP (hydroxy methyl amino propionic acid) on the pharmaco kinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of porcine insulin delivered to the lungs of rats by spray-instillation (SI) has been determined. Methods. Aliquots (100 mul) of increasing doses of porcine insulin alone (0.26, 1.3, 2.6, 13, and 26 U/kg) or combined with increasing doses of H-MAP (5, 10, 16, and 25 mg/kg), at pH 7.2-7.6 were administered intratracheally to fasted anesthetized rats using a micro spray-instillator. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein at specified intervals and the plasma concentrations of insulin and glucose were determined. The PK and PD of porcine insulin alone following subcutaneous (SC) administration of increasing doses were also determined. Results. The PK of insulin administered either by SI to the lungs or SC injection were absorption rate dependent, resulting in post-peak half-lives 10 to 25-fold greater than the reported intravenous elimination half-life (3 min). The relative bioavailability (F') of insulin administered alone by SI varied from 23.8 to 80% for the lowest and highest insulin dose, respectively. Co-administration of H-MAP and insulin to the lungs significantly changed the PK and PD of insulin in a dose dependent fashion. Maximum PK and PD responses were obtained at an H-MAP dose of 16 mg/kg and an insulin dose of 1.3 U/kg. At this combination, the relative bioavailability of insulin was increased more than 2.5 fold, maximum concentration (C-max) increased 2-fold and the minimum plasma glucose concentration (%MPGC) was reduced more than 2-fold with respect to same dose of insulin alone. A greater total reduction in plasma glucose (%TRPG(0-->t)) was achieved for H-MAP/insulin combination (66 +/- 5 %) compared to insulin alone (47 +/- 10 %). Conclusion. H-MAP has potential for increasing the pulmonary bioavailability of insulin administered through the lungs.