Pharmacokinetics of TRIS (hydroxymethyl-)aminomethane in the rabbit

Pharmacokinetics of TRIS were investigated in rabbits after infusion of 1 mmol/kg. The drug exhibited three-compartment characteristics with long terminal half-life (13 hr). The final volume of distribution V beta (3700 ml/kg) indicated drug accumulation inside cells, but equilibration between compartments was slow compared to drug elimination. From these data is seems questionable whether cellular uptake of TRIS is an important factor in the therapy of intracellular acidosis.