Mandibular and parotid salivary levels of indomethacin following intravenous administration to rabbits.

Indomethacin was measured in mandibular and parotid saliva, obtained from separate cannulas in the salivary ducts, after bolus intravenous administration (15 mg/kg) to male white rabbits that were stimulated for salivation with pilocarpine given subcutaneously. There was a significant correlation between each salivary drug concentration and plasma drug concentration. Saliva to plasma drug concentration ratio (S/P ratio) and pH were higher in mandibular saliva than in parotid saliva. These gland specific differences were in contrast with the previously reported differences in dogs. Matin's equation was found to predict approximately the mean observed S/P ratio of indomethacin for each saliva sample.