Evaluation of acetylsalicylic acid esterase in aspirin metabolism. Interspecies comparison

Abstract

The hydrolysis of acetylsalicylic acid in vitro by serum from various species of laboratory animals and humans has been estimated by spectrophotometric measurement of salicylic acid appearance. Various animal species differ widely in their serum aspirin hydrolysis rates, with cats and rabbits approximating the human rate. Rats greatly exceed the rate for man, while dogs show a much slower rate. Human serum samples in vitro show considerable individual differences in acetylsalicylic acid esterase activity. A variety of serum concentrations, temperatures, and buffers have been compared. In vivo aspirin hydrolysis was also compared in 20 humans using an adaptation of the Brodie method, which measured aspirin blood levels at various time intervals following oral administration of buffered and unbuffered aspirins. Copyright © 1965 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company