Anaesthetic properties of dimethylthiourea.
We have examined dimethylthiourea, a potent scavenger of free radicals, for its anaesthetic properties in mice and rats. In mice, dimethylthiourea abolished the righting reflex at intraperitoneal doses greater than 1.5 mg g-1 bodyweight; in rats, it decreased the MAC value for isoflurane in a dose-dependent fashion. Dimethylthiourea 0.5 g kg-1 decreased isoflurane MAC by 23%; at a dose of 2.0-4.0 g kg-1, it abolished the response to tail clamp. Doses of 4.0 g kg-1 were lethal in the presence of isoflurane. A serum concentration of dimethylthiourea approximately 1 mg ml-1 produced a 50% reduction in isoflurane MAC. These anaesthetic properties of dimethylthiourea may influence experimental studies that examine the biochemical and physiological properties of this agent.
Koblin
D D
DD
Department of Anesthesia, Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121.
Laster
M J
MJ
Liu
J
J
D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D007530:Isoflurane; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D013890:Thiourea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
C038983:1,3-dimethylthiourea; D007530:Isoflurane; D013890:Thiourea