Pharmacokinetic variation of ofloxacin based on gender-related difference in the expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (Abcc2/Mrp2) in rat kidney

The present study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic variation of ofloxacin based on gender-related difference in the expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (Abcc2/Mrp2) in rat kidney.  The concentrations of ofloxacin in rat plasma and urine were determined after tail vein administration (30 mg·kg⁻¹) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.  Expression of Mrp2 in kidney of male and female rats was qualitatively and quantitatively detected by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, separately.  The results showed that AUC value of ofloxacin was lower in male rats than that in female rats and the total amount of ofloxacin excreted in the urine was higher in male rats than that in female rats.  And the expression of Mrp2 in male rat kidney was higher than that in female rats.  All results suggested that gender- related differences in pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin may be attributed to the differences in the expression of Mrp2 in kidney of male and female rats.