Effects of aflatoxin B1 on the sensitivity of the rat central nervous system to pentobarbital-Na racemate
Stĕtinová, V.; Grossmann, V.; Kvĕtina, J.; Srámek, B.
Polish Journal of Pharmacology 47(5): 393-399
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 1230-6002 PMID: 8868130 Document Number: 439196
The immobility time of pentobarbital was prolonged in male rats treated with aflatoxin B-1 (AFB-1), 2 mg/kg, with maximum on the 3rd day after treatment. It cannot be fully explained by the pharmacokinetic mechanisms. In parallel ED-50 of pentobarbital was decreased both in males and females. In males the lethal dose of pentobarbital was decreased by about 30%. The pentobarbital concentration in the brain was increased during the immobility time and at awakening after the ip administration of 40 mg/kg of the drug on the 3rd day after AFB1 treatment with doses of 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg po in males and females, respectively. The plasma concentration of pentobarbital was significantly increased in treated males only. The content of unchanged pentobarbital in urine within 24 h after its administration was not high (about 1% in males, 2% in females) and in the AFB1 treated animals it virtually did not change. The elevation of the brain level of barbiturate at the time of awakening in AFB1 treated animals may point to a decreased sensitivity to pentobarbital.