Isolation on Brain Sensitivity and Barbiturate Metabolism.

The mechanisms by which hypoxia or social isola-tion interact with drug action were investigated by the use of several parameters including drug-induc ed narcosis, con-vulsions, change in body temperature and various biochem-ical parameters. Acute Hypoxia Hypobaric hypoxia (364 mm Hg, 10 % 02) enhanced. the depressant effects of barbital, pentobarbital and chloral hydrate in mice and rats, Mice were far more sensitive than rats, barbital narcosis being affected to the greatest extent. Reduced oxygen (10%) at normal pressure also poten-tiated pentobarbital narcosis, Hypothermia during hypoxia was greater in mice than in rats. Mice exposed to hypoxia at 30°c instead of 22°c ambient temperature did not exhibit hypothermia, Hypoxia a