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The behaviorally active peptide ACTH 4-10: Measurement in plasma and pharmacokinetics in man

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Summary

A specific radioimmunoassay for the quantitative measurement of ACTH 4-10 and a procedure for its extraction from plasma have been developed.

Its pharmacokinetics was studied in eight healthy male volunteers given ACTH 4-10 125 µg/kg body weight as a bolus i.v. injection, by infusion and intranasally. Following the i.v. bolus, plasma levels rapidly declined biexponentially, with half-lives of 0.39±0.05 min for the α-phase and 3.84 ± 1.5 min for the β-phase (mean±SD). The constant rate i.v. infusion yielded steady-state levels between 0.74 and 5.06 ng/ml plasma. Administered as intranasal spray, absorption of intact ACTH 4-10 was low and variable (maximal bioavailability 7.6%).

The results are discussed in relation to the dose-dependent effects of ACTH 4-10 on the auditory evoked potential.

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Bickel, U., Born, J., Fehm, H.L. et al. The behaviorally active peptide ACTH 4-10: Measurement in plasma and pharmacokinetics in man. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 35, 371–377 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00561367

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