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Effect of acute hypoxia on brain-sensitivity and metabolism of barbiturates in mice

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Summary

Acute exposure of mice to hypobaric hypoxia, or reduced oxygen at normal pressure, markedly potentiated barbiturate-induced hypnosis. The mice showed lower body concentration of pentobarbital on awakening and reduced rate of pentobarbital disappearance from the body during exposure to the hypoxic environment. These data suggest that acute exposure to hypoxia depresses in vivo metabolism of pentobarbital and enhances CNS sensitivity to the barbiturates.

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Baumel, I., DeFeo, J.J. & Lal, H. Effect of acute hypoxia on brain-sensitivity and metabolism of barbiturates in mice. Psychopharmacologia 17, 193–197 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402709

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402709

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