THE DEPRESSANT ACTION OF ETHYL TRICHLORAMATE ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

¹ Research Laboratories, Parke, Davis & Company, Detroit, Michigan

The depressant effect of ethyl trichloramate (HY-185) on the central nervous system has been investigated and compared with that of chloral hydrate and urethane in rats and mice. HY-185 is as effective as chloral hydrate in producing sedation, hypnosis and general anesthesia. In addition, it produces a greater relaxation of skeletal muscles. HY-185 was found to be more effective than chloral hydrate in suppressing the maximal tonic-extensor seizure response of mice to electrical, pentylenetetrazol, or strychnine stimulation. This difference in anticonvulsant effect is probably due to a greater internuncial neurone depressant activity, which may also account for the muscle relaxant property of HY-185.

The combined anticonvulsant and depressant effect of chioral hydrate and urethane in molecular equivalent quantities was found to be less than that of HY-185. In contrast, the acute lethal toxicity of HY-185 is less than the combined lethal toxicities of chioral hydrate and urethane. This indicates that HY-185 produces depression of the central nervous system probably as an intact molecule.