title: Pharmacokinetics of 4-methylimidazole in sheep.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of 4-methylimidazole (4MI), a toxin found in ammoniated forage, was studied after i.v. infusion or oral administration of a single dose of 20 mg 4MI/kg BW to sheep. A two-compartment open model was used to describe i.v. infusion data. Oral data were described by a one-compartment open model. A rapid distribution phase (t1/2 alpha = 28 min) was observed after i.v. infusion. The biological half-lives obtained after i.v. infusion (t1/2 beta = 9.72 h) and oral dosing (t1/2 beta = 9.37 h) were similar. The bioavailability of oral 4MI was .69, with a relatively rapid absorption phase (t1/2abs = 1.52 h). The relatively large volume of distribution (61.6 and 65.8 liters for i.v. infusion and oral dosage, respectively) indicates that 4MI is distributed in the extravascular compartment. A dose of 20 mg/kg BW did not cause any apparent ill effects to the animals.
authors: University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546-0215.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Karangwa
authors: G E
authors: GE
authors: Mitchell
authors: R E
authors: RE
authors: Tucker
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D005260:Female; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; C023439:4-methylimidazole