DRUG METABOLISM IN HYPOTHERMIA. II. C’4-ATROPINE UPTAKE, METABOLISM AND EXCRETION BY THE ISOLATED, PERFUSED RAT LIVER’

Relatively few reports have appeared concern-ing the effect of hypothermia on the metabolism of drugs by the intact animal or by an isolated organ (Rink et al., 1956), although in a review, Fuhrman (I 946) cites numerous examples of changes in drug action or drug toxicity occurring with changes in environmental temperature. Unfortunately, changes in drug action or toxicity cannot be directly equated with changes in drug metabolism, since many other factors (tissue re-sponsiveness, distribution of drug) may be in-volved. Accordingly, it was considered of interest to investigate the effect of hypothermia on the metabolism of C’4-atropine by a direct collection of metabolites fi-om the bile and from the urine