The Distribution and Excretion of [5,6 -14C] Eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraynoic acid in the Rat

1. The distribution and excretion of radioactivity from 1 min to 5 days following parental administration of [5, 6-14C]eicosa-5, 8, 11, 14-tetraynoic acid was studied in the rat.2. Following intravenous administration, the compound was rapidly removed from blood with a half-life of less than 1 min. Absorption by liver was extensive (38% at 15 min) and led to major excretion via the bile with 91% of administered activity being removed by this route in 24 h in the bile-duct cannulated rat. Extensive enterohepatic cycling was evident.3. Over a period of 5 days following intraperitoneal administration, 62% of the total recovered activity was excreted in faeces, 12.6% in urine and 2.8% was expired as 14CO2.4. Fat, adrenal glands, intestinal tissue and, to a lesser extent, skin showed significant sp. radioactivity levels throughout the 5 day period.