Abstract
The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is an increasingly popular animal model, and while carprofen is a frequently used NSAID in this species, there are no published studies evaluating dosage needs to achieve appropriate analgesia. The aim of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of low-dose (2 mg/kg) and high-dose (4 mg/kg) carprofen following oral and subcutaneous routes of administration in marmosets. Three (2 females, 1 male) adult (3.1 ± 1.6 y old [mean ± SD]) common marmosets were used for this study. Blood was collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h after administration. The plasma concentrations of carprofen were determined using HPLC and pharmacokinetic parameters. The 4 mg/kg carprofen yielded a significantly higher plasma concentration than did 2 mg/kg carprofen. However, our data show that neither administration route, nor dose, result in plasma concentrations at or above the desired therapeutic threshold. The poor pharmacokinetic properties suggest that these doses of carprofen are not adequate and that either higher doses should be considered or carprofen should not be used as the NSAID of choice in the common marmoset.