Abstract
Summary
1. No difference was demonstrable in the rate of in vitro oxidation of glucose, lactate, pyruvate and in the succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase systems by brain homogenates from control and thiopental-tolerant mice.
2. Thiopental was found to inhibit the in vitro oxidation of glucose, lactate, and pyruvate but there was no difference in the degree of inhibition between control and tolerant mouse brain homogenates. The anaerobic glycolysis of glucose and the activity of succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase were unaffected by the thiopental.
3. No inhibition of the in vitro oxidation of glucose was observed in the brain homogenates from normal or tolerant mice after receiving an L.D.50 dose of thiopental.
4. It is concluded that the observed in vitro depression of brain respiration by barbiturates cannot be the sole mechanism responsible for barbiturate hypnosis.
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