title: Disposition of vecuronium bromide in the cat.
abstract: The disposition of vecuronium bromide has been investigated in six normal cats (group I) and in six cats with ligated renal pedicles (group II). A combined fluorimetric and chromatographic technique was used to determine the concentrations of vecuronium and its metabolites in biological material. After i.v. injection of 0.6 mg kg-1, vecuronium disappeared rapidly from the plasma of the normal cat. Concentrations decreased bi-exponentially with half-lives of 4.6 and 31 min, respectively. The steady state volume of distribution was 0.23 litre kg-1 and the clearance 11 ml min-1 kg-1. Seventy percent of an i.v. dose of vecuronium (or its metabolites) was recovered: 15% in the urine, 40% in the bile and 15% in the liver. Only 3.8% of this consisted of the 3-hydroxy metabolite. There were no significant differences in pharmacokinetic data or in the amounts of vecuronium and its metabolites recovered in cats with ligated renal pedicles. The 15% of vecuronium normally excreted by the kidney was compensated for by increased hepatic and biliary concentration of vecuronium.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Bencini
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Scaf
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agoston
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Houwertjes
authors.forename: U W
authors.initials: UW
authors.lastname: Kersten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism; D002415:Cats; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D010197:Pancuronium / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D013997:Time Factors; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide
chemical_list: D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D010197:Pancuronium