Abstract
Summary
The effects of varying doses of cephalic X-irradiation on barbiturate hypnosis have been examined in rats. An enhancement of hypnosis was found in the irradiated animals, the effect depending on the dose of radiation and the time post-irradiation. At relatively higher doses (5,000 and 10,000 r), the duration of thiopental hypnosis was significantly prolonged. Similarly, in the 10,000 r irradiated rats, the time of onset of hypnosis for the slow acting barbital was considerably shortened. Using pentobarbital, it was possible to demonstrate the enhancement effect, both with respect to onset and duration of hypnosis. It was also shown that even at the high doses of radiation employed, head X-irradiation produced no inhibition of the phenobarbital induction of microsomal enzyme activity as evidenced by the pharmacological effects.
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