The disposition of [¹⁴C]acrylonitrile in rats

Abstract

1. The disposition of [1,2-¹⁴C]acrylonitrile and acrylo[¹⁴C]nitrile has been studied following intraperitoneal and oral administration to rats.

2. Most of the ¹⁴C found in the tissues was associated with erythrocytes, liver and kidneys. Loss of ¹⁴C from liver and kidneys occurred fairly rapidly, but the ¹⁴C in the erythrocytes was still mostly retained 48h after administration. Significant differences in the rates of ¹⁴C loss from tissues occurred with [1,2-¹⁴C]acrylonitrile and acrylo[¹⁴C]nitrile given orally.

3. The ¹⁴C from both labelled forms of acrylonitrile was excreted mostly in the urine (82–93% dose) with a smaller amount exhaled unchanged in the breath (3–7° ₀ dose) in 24 h.