Gas chromatographic determination and pharmacokinetics of 4-hydroxybutrate in dog and mouse.

A rapid and reproducible method was developed to extract 4-hydroxybutyrate from plasma as 4-butyrolactone for subsequent gas chromatographic (GLC) assay. The drug, an intravenous anesthetic and oral hypnotic in man, was infused into four dogs and the plasma concentration was determined by 14C-isotope dilution and GLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters for distribution and elimination were calculated. A capacity-limited process appears to be involved in the elimination fo 4-hydroxybutyrate in the dog. Macroautoradiogrpahy recieved the distribution pattern in normal and pregnant adult mice.