Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2019 Dec 23;37(1):12.
doi: 10.1007/s11095-019-2745-x.

Intraperitoneal Route of Drug Administration: Should it Be Used in Experimental Animal Studies?

Abdullah Al Shoyaib  1 , Sabrina Rahman Archie  2 , Vardan T Karamyan  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Intraperitoneal Route of Drug Administration: Should it Be Used in Experimental Animal Studies?

Abdullah Al Shoyaib et al. Pharm Res. .

Abstract

Intraperitoneal (IP) route of drug administration in laboratory animals is a common practice in many in vivo studies of disease models. While this route is an easy to master, quick, suitable for chronic treatments and with low impact of stress on laboratory rodents, there is a common concern that it may not be an acceptable route for drug administration in experimental studies. The latter is likely due to sparsity of information regarding pharmacokinetics of pharmacological agents and the mechanisms through which agents get systemic exposure after IP administration. In this review, we summarize the main mechanisms involved in bioavailability of IP administered drugs and provide examples of pharmacokinetic profiles for small and large molecules in comparison to other routes of administration. We conclude with a notion that IP administration of drugs in experimental studies involving rodents is a justifiable route for pharmacological and proof-of-concept studies where the goal is to evaluate the effect(s) of target engagement rather than properties of a drug formulation and/or its pharmacokinetics for clinical translation.

Keywords: biopharmaceutical; intraperitoneal; macromolecule; pharmacokinetics; small molecule.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Panel (a), parietal mesothelial cell with small number of pinocytic vesicles and a more mature basement membrane. Panel (b), visceral mesothelial cell with higher number of pinocytic vesicles and less mature basement membrane.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Schematic overview of absorption pathways for small and macromolecules from the peritoneal cavity to systemic circulation.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Schematic representation of the main lymphatic absorption pathways for macromolecules after IP administration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Turner PV, Brabb T, Pekow C, Vasbinder MA. Administration of substances to laboratory animals: routes of administration and factors to consider. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2011;50(5):600–13. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cunliffe-Beamer TLaL, E.P. In The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals. Longman Scientific and Technical, Essex: 1987;6th:275–308.
    1. Eldridge SF, McDonald KE, Renne RA and Lewis TR Lab Anim 11. 1982;11:50–54.
    1. Simmons MLaB, J.O. In The Laboratory Mouse (ed. Hollaender A ). Prentice-Hall Inc, Englewood Cliffs: 1970:127–129.
    1. Morton DB, Jennings M, Buckwell A, Ewbank R, Godfrey C, Holgate B, Inglis I, James R, Page C, Sharman I, Verschoyle R, Westall L, Wilson AB, Joint Working Group on R. Refining procedures for the administration of substances. Report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW Joint Working Group on Refinement. British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation/Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments/Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals/Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Lab Anim. 2001;35(1):1–41. - PubMed

Substances