Tertiary butyl alcohol (TEA) is a small aliphatic alcohol with multipl
e industrial and scientific uses. A comprehensive pharmacokinetic prof
ile for TEA has not been determined in rats. The purpose of this study
was to fully characterize the pharmacokinetics of TEA. in male and fe
male F-344 rats following intravenous administration of 37.5, 75, 150
and 300 mg/kg TEA. TEA was observed to undergo a rapid distribution ph
ase followed by a slower elimination phase. The steady-state volume of
distribution for TBA was roughly 4.5 times greater than total body wa
ter, and the clearance was lower than the estimated glomerular filtrat
ion rate. The elimination of TEA appears to saturate at higher doses,
as evidenced by a disproportional increase in area under the concentra
tion-time curve and decreased rate of clearance. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci
ence Ireland Ltd.