Effects of Urea on Hexobarbital and Antipyrine Disposition in Rats

Abstract
Hexobarbital sleep times, antipyrine-induced temperature depression, in vitro hexobarbital metabolism and antipyrine half-life were measured in rats receiving saline or urea pretreatments. Urea pretreatment slows hexobarbital metabolism and prolongs hexobarbital sleep times. Urea pretreatment shortens the duration of antipyrine-induced temperature depression and the half-life of antipyrine. Urea appears to contribute to the changes in drug metabolism reported for nephrectomized rats and may contribute to aberrations of drug metabolism accompanying uremia in man.