Abstract
Summary
Pregnanolone (3α-hydroxy 5β-pregnane 20-one) a metabolite of progesterone was found to be a highly potent, short-acting hypnotic agent when administered in solution form intravenously. Neuropharmacologic analysis in cats and monkeys showed depression of the reticular activating system of the midbrain and other electrophysiologic phenomena similar to those produced by barbiturates. On the basis of the doses employed in this study to a wide variety of mammals, pregnanolone is so far considered to be one of the most potent hypnotic-anesthetic agents.
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