A balance study of 14C-labelled 3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinolin-2-amines (IQ and MeIQ) in rats.

The absorption and excretion of 14C-labelled 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) were studied in rats of both sexes. The excretion was rapid and within 24 hr more than 90% of the radioactivity had left the rats. After 72 hr the faecal excretion of both compounds was approximately 45-65% and the corresponding excretion via the urine amounted to 37-49%. Only 1-2% was left in the carcasses and less than 0.2% was found in the expired air. About 70% of the IQ and 80% of the MeIQ was found in the bile fluid in a separate 24-hr study. The two compounds had different biliary excretion patterns and the mutagenicity of the bile correlated closely with the excretion of radioactivity.