The disposition of [14C]diethanolamine (DEA) (1) was determined in rat after oral, i.v. and dermal administration, and in mouse after dermal administration. 2. Oral administration of DEA to rat was by gavage of 7 mg/kg doses once and after daily repeat dosing for up to 8 weeks. Oral doses were well absorbed but excreted very slowly. DEA accumulated to high concentrations in certain tissues, particularly liver and kidney. The steady-state of bioaccumulation was approached only after several weeks of repeat oral dosing, and the half-life of elimination was approximately 1 week. 3. DEA was slowly absorbed through the skin of rat (3-16% in 48 h) after application of 2-28 mg/kg doses. Dermal doses ranging from 8 to 80 mg/kg were more readily absorbed through mouse skin (25-60%) in 48 h of exposure, with the percent of the applied dose absorbed increasing with dose. 4. Single doses (oral or i.v.) of DEA were excreted slowly in urine (c. 22-25% in 48 h) predominantly as the parent compound. There was minimal conversion to CO2 or volatile metabolites in breath. The profile of metabolites appearing in urine changed after several weeks of repeat oral administration, with significant amounts of N-methylDEA and more cationic metabolites appearing along with unchanged DEA.
