[Experimental pharmacology of probucol (author's transl)]

Abstract

The experimental studies carried out so far have uniformly demonstrated that probucol lowers plasma cholesterol levels in all animal species. The drug has low toxicity and has been well tolerated during long-term treatment (up to 8 years in monkeys) in most species. In some dogs, however, probucol seemed to increase myocardial sensitivity to catecholamins, but this has not been found in other species. The pharmacokinetics of probucol show a rather slow turnover and are characterized by storage of the drug in adipose tissues, which may explain why the hypocholesterolaemic effect is progressively obtained. The main channel of excretion is the bile. No other pharmacological action has been described with probucol, which in the present state of knowledge appears to be a predominantly cholesterol-lowering agent.