Using isolated rat hepatocytes, the in vitro intrinsic hepatic clearance of three drugs, namely, antipyrine (AP), propranolol (P), and CGS 13429 was determinedThe hepatic extraction ratios of AP, P, and CGS 13429 were then calculated to be 0.10, 0.90, and 0.88, resp.To determine the in vivo hepatic extraction ratio in the rat, AP, P, or CGs 13429 was infused sep. at a rate of 40, 20, and 20 μg/min.kg, via jugular and hepatic portal veins.The steady state plasma levels of AP, P, and CGS 13429 were 5.30 μg/mL, 608 and 380 ng/mL after jugular vein (i.v.) infusions, and 4.96 μg/mL, 162, and 146 ng/mL after hepatic portal vein (hpv) infusions, resp.The blood to plasma ratios of AP, P, and CGS 13429 were 1.0, 0.78, and 1.0, resp.The in vivo hepatic extraction ratio, calculated as (Css,iv - Css,hpv)/Css,iv from steady state blood levels following i.v. and hpv infusions for AP, P, and CGS 13429, were 0.065, 0.73, and 0.61, resp.These results suggest that in vitro metabolism studies by hepatocytes may have potential application, during drug discovery, to distinguish drugs of low and high metabolic hepatic extraction ratio in vivo.