Pharmacokinetic evidence for the long-lasting effect of nor-binaltorphimine, a potent kappa opioid receptor antagonist, in mice

•Brain and serum contents of nor-BNI and naloxone were quantified by HPLC-ECD in mice.•A mixture solution (20 or 30 mg/kg, s.c.) of nor-BNI and naloxone were administered.•After 20 mg/kg injection, nor-BNI in brain was detected for 48 h, while naloxone for 3 h.•Nor-BNI in brain was detected until day 21 after 30 mg/kg, being consistent with long lasting antagonistic effects.

Nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) is kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist with the extremely long duration in mice analgesic assay, in vivo. For the evaluation of long-lasting effect of nor-BNI, brain content and serum concentration of nor-BNI were quantified in comparison with those of naloxone (a short-acting non-specific opioid receptor antagonist) by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector in mice. After concomitant administration (20 mg/kg, s.c.) of nor-BNI and naloxone, nor-BNI in brain and serum showed biphasic elimination, with a rapid phase for 0.75-4 h and a slow phase for 4-48 h. Elimination rate in brain was slower than that of serum. Naloxone in brain and serum was detected for 3 h and 4 h, respectively. The brain/serum ratio of nor-BNI gradually increased over 0.75-48 h, while that of naloxone rapidly declined. After concomitant administration (30 mg/kg, s.c.) of nor-BNI and naloxone, brain nor-BNI was detected in all mice from day 1 to day 21 and in two of six mice at day 28, while serum nor-BNI was detected in all mice at day 1, three of seven at day 3 and one of six at day 7. After that, serum nor-BNI was not detected. Naloxone in brain and serum was not detected at day 1. These results provide pharmacokinetic support for the long-lasting antagonistic effects of nor-BNI.