Preparation of betaine injection and its therapeutic effect on pulmonary
arterial hypertension
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening disease
characterized by elevated pulmonary pressure, right ventricular failure
(RVF) and ultimately death. Aggressive treatment of RVF is considered
the most important therapeutic strategy. In this study, betaine
injection was prepared and characterized by various techniques. The
therapeutic efficacy of gavage (I.G.), nebulized inhalation (Inh.) and
intravenous (I.V.) injections was evaluated comprehensively in terms of
pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and pharmacodynamics using three
different methods of administration. The results of pharmacokinetic
demonstrated that Inh. betaine injection significantly prolonged the
half-life of the drug, increased its internal circulation time and
increased Inh. administration significantly improved the
pharmacokinetics of betaine compared to I.G. and I.V. administration.
Combined with biodistribution experiments verified that betaine
formulation could accumulate in lung tissue via Inh. The results of
pharmacodynamic further confirmed that right ventricular systolic
pressure (RVSP), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and right
ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) were increased in the model group
and that betaine prepared by Inh. was able to suppress this increase to
levels similar to those observed in the control group. Consequently,
Inh. administration would be a promising strategy for the treatment of
PAH-induced RVF.