Studies on absorption, plasma concentrations and excretion with (+/-)isopropyl-2-methoxyethyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl) -3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (nimodipine, Bay e 9736, Nimotop) have been conducted in rat, dog and monkey using the carbon-14-labelled substance and a wide range of doses (0.05-10 mg/kg) administered via different routes (intravenous, oral, intraduodenal). Nimodipine was well absorbed in all species. Peak plasma concentrations of radioactivity were determined 28-40 min (male rat), 60 min (female rat), about 3 h (dog) and 7 h (monkey) after administration. Dependent on the observation period (24-216 h) terminal half-lives for the elimination of radioactivity from plasma ranging between 4.6 h (female rat) and 157 h (dog) were observed. Comparing the AUC, the concentration of unchanged [14C]nimodipine in plasma represented only a small (maximally 37% in dogs after i.v. dose) to negligible (about 1%, monkey after oral dosing) part of the total radioactivity. Excretion of radioactivity via feces and urine was rapid in all species after both oral and intravenous dosing. Fecal (biliary) excretion was the major excretory route in rat and dog. The monkeys excreted about 40 to 50% via the urine. Residues in the body never exceeded 1.5% of the dose. [14C]nimodipine and/or its radiolabelled metabolites were secreted in milk of orally dosed lactating rats. Binding of [14C]nimodipine to plasma proteins of rat and dog was about 97%.