[Experimental studies on distribution of cefotiam, a new beta-lactam antibiotic, in the lung and trachea of rabbits. II. Combined effects with serratiopeptidase].

Plasma levels and distribution in pulmonary and bronchial tissues of CTM following injection into the jugular vein were investigated in rabbits with experimental pleuritis or pneumonitis as well as in normal rabbits. The experiments also included the assessment of the effect of concomitant administration of serratiopeptidase (TSP). The pneumonitis + TSP group, pleuritis group and pleuritis + TSP group showed a tendency to delayed dissipation of CTM from the plasma, as compared with controls. The CTM concentrations in tissues from the apical region of upper lobe (L1), lateral region of middle lobe (L2) and diaphragmatic region of lower lobe (L3) 30 minutes after injection did not differ significantly between the control and the TSP group, pleuritis group or pleuritis + TSP group. In the pneumonitis group, the tissue CTM concentrations at all 3 sites (L1, L2, L3) were lower than those in the control group. They were increased by the concomitant administration of TSP, with statistical significance of increase in regions L2 and L3. Thirty minutes after the injection of CTM, the pneumonitis group and pneumonitis + TSP group displayed essentially comparable CTM levels in pleural fluid, whereas the CTM concentrations in the pleural fluid were prone to be increased in the pleuritis + TSP group as comparing with the pleuritis group. CTM levels in the tissues of trachea (B0), right and left main bronchi (B1) and lobar bronchi (B2) 30 minutes after the injection did not show any significant difference between control and TSP-treated normal groups. CTM concentrations tended to be increased, yet not significantly, in all these regions in the rabbits with pleuritis administered TSP, compared to those without TSP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)