Subcutaneous Administration of Insulin is Associated With Regional Differences in Injection Depot Variability and Kinetics in The Rat

Anna Gradel, Trine Porsgaard, Jens Lykkesfeldt, Per B. Brockhoff, Torben Seested, Hanne Refsgaard

Research output: Journal Article or Conference Article in JournalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In humans, subcutaneous administration of insulin in the abdominal region or arm is associated with a faster absorption compared to the thigh or buttocks. We hypothesised that this is partly caused by differences in injection depot structure and kinetics and that the variability in insulin exposure differs between injection sites. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Regional effects on insulin pharmacokinetics were evaluated in a series of studies in Sprague Dawley rats dosed subcutaneously with insulin aspart in the neck or flank. Injection depots were visualised using µCT after subcutaneous dosing with insulin aspart mixed with the contrast agent iomeprol, and insulin exposure was determined between the scans by Luminescent Oxygen Channeling Immunoassay. RESULTS: Insulin absorption was significantly delayed by subcutaneous dosing in the flank compared to the neck region (p<0.01 or less). This delay was associated with smaller depots, as measured by reduced depot volume and surface area (p<0.001). Furthermore, the delayed absorption correlated with a slower depot disappearance (p<0.001). Regional differences in depot variability were not reflected by similar differences in pharmacokinetic variability. CONCLUSION: Structure and kinetics of subcutaneous injection depots-as detected by µCT scans-predict insulin exposure and may thus contribute to the regional differences in insulin pharmacokinetics. The present methodology is applicable for visualisation of insulin injection depots in vivo. Our results did however not support a link between the variability in depot size and insulin pharmacokinetics.
Original languageEnglish
JournalExperimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes
ISSN0947-7349
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • In vivo pharmacology
  • insulin pharmacokinetics
  • variability
  • µCT imaging

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