Tissue distribution and excretion of radioactively labelled compounds in the Wistar rat after administration of [N-methyl-14C]-erythromycin A.

Tissue distribution and excretion of radioactively labelled compounds was studied in the Wistar rat after i.v. administration of [N-methyl-14C]-erythromycin A. Whole-body autoradiography and liquid scintillation counting was used to investigate the tissue localization of radioactivity in pregnant and non-pregnant rats. Tissue levels were maximal within 20 min, except for lachrymal glands, thymus and brain. Large amounts of radioactively labelled compounds, partly originating from active secretion, were present in the small intestine and caecum. Marked concentration of radioactively labelled compounds was also observed in the liver, spleen, lachrymal and salivary glands, lymph nodes, mammary glands, skin, bone marrow, and, to a lesser extent, in the lung, kidney and skeletal muscle. During six hours of experimental follow-up, plasma levels remained lower than corresponding tissue levels. At 1 h the radioactivity in fetuses was about three times lower than that in maternal blood. Within 48 h, more than 90% of the administered radioactivity was excreted. The amounts of radioactivity recovered in urine, faeces and expired air were about 19%, 48% and 24% respectively. After 48 h, 8% of the administered radioactivity was found in the carcass.