Disposition of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone in the rat

The disposition of N-[14C-vinyl]-2-pyrrolidinone was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats following a single iv injection. Plasma levels of the intact compound dropped rapidly within the first 6 hours after dosing with a half life of 1.90 hours. Urinary excretion by 12 hours represented 74.9% of a 5 microCi dose while 18.7% was excreted into the bile by 6 hours. 14C-activity attributed to the intact compound was found to be less than 0.59% of the dose in the urine and less than 0.46% in the bile. Tissue distribution studies showed that the liver and small intestines and contents contained the highest accumulation of 14C-activity up to 6 hours after administration of N-[14C-vinyl]-2-pyrrolidinone. Urine analyses performed for metabolite elucidation indicated that 12% of the radioactivity dosed was incorporated into acetate and the major remaining portion in species which appeared to be water soluble acidic compounds.