Distribution of aztreonam into fetuses and milk of rats

Subcutaneous administration of [14C]aztreonam (150 mg/kg) to pregnant rats was followed by the appearance of radioactive moieties in fetuses and amniotic fluid. Concentrations of both total radioactivity and unchanged aztreonam in maternal serum declined more rapidly than those in fetuses and amniotic fluid. [14C]aztreonam (150 mg/kg) was also administered subcutaneously to lactating rats. Radioactivity and unchanged aztreonam were found in the suckling pups and in the serum and milk of the dam. Results obtained by whole-body autoradiography were generally consistent with these obtained by measuring radioactivity present in the excised tissues. Autoradiographs of the pups showed detectable amounts of radioactivity in the brain; since no radioactivity was detectable in the brain of the dam, it appears that the blood-brain barrier was not fully developed in 7-day-old pups.