Pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin in sheep following intravenous and subcutaneous administration

Pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin was studied in sheep after intravenous and subcutaneous administration at a dose of 10 mg kg−1. Blood was collected using indwelling jugular catheter at predetermined time intervals. Plasma was extracted and analyzed for ciprofloxacin by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. Following i.v. and s.c. administration, ciprofloxacin followed two-compartment and one-compartment open model, respectively. Subcutaneous route was found to possess a very low bioavailability of 40%. Ciprofloxacin was found to exert its pharmacological effect for more than 28 and 14 h after i.v. and s.c. administration, respectively.