The Effect of Body Temperature on the Duration of Barbiturate Anesthesia in Mice

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Abstract
Expts. were carried out to determine the influence of body temp. on the duration of action of some barbituric acid derivatives. The mice were all injd. at room temp. which was maintained until anesthesia developed. Half of the group were then transferred to a chamber kept at 35-37[degree]C, and the other half were rapidly cooled to a body temp. of 25-27[degree]C. Body temps. were detd. using potentiometers and Fe-constantan thermocouples inserted rectally to a depth of 15 mm. Sleeping time was taken as the interval between loss and recovery of the righting reflex. The dura- tion of action of pentobarbital and sandoptal was greatly prolonged by reduction in body temp. by 10[degree]C, while that of barbital was scarcely affected. The chief difference between barbital and the other 2 derivatives lay in their fate; barbital is excreted in the urine whereas the other two are detoxified in the tissues, particularly in the liver. In general, it is expected that the duration of action of those barbiturates which are inactivated in the tissues will be prolonged by a reduction in body temp., whereas that of derivatives excreted by the kidney will be little affected.

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