Influence of molecular lipophilicity on the diffusion of arylpropionate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid.

The diffusion of seven arylpropionic acid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been investigated in male Wistar rats by means of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study. After intraperitoneal administration of each drug (5 mg/kg), blood and CSF samples were collected at different times (0.5, 1, 3, and 6 h). The fraction bound to plasma proteins (fb) was determined using ultracentrifugation. The total (CT) and free (CF) plasma concentrations and the concentrations in CSF (CCSF) were measured by a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method. The areas under the curve of the free plasma (AUCF) and CSF (AUCCSF) concentrations were calculated according to the trapezoidal rule. The overall drug transit into CSF was estimated by the ratio RAUC (AUCCSF: AUCF). The lipophilicity of the compounds was expressed as their polycratic capacity factors (log k'w) measured in a RP-HPLC system. The RAUC ranged from 0.24 to 6.58 and fb from 91.4 to 99.8%. The compounds with an intermediate lipophilicity value (3 < logk'w < 3.6) easily entered the CSF (RAUC > 1). A parabolic relationship was found between log k'w and log RAUC, emphasizing the role of molecular lipophilicity in the diffusion into CSF. Considering the fb value of each drug in regard to this non-linear relationship, it can be hypothesized that the diffusion rate of NSAIDs into the CSF depends primarily on the lipophilicity.