PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R I Freudenthal
AU  - J Martin
TI  - Correlation of brain levels of barbiturate enantiomers with reported differences in duration of sleep.
DP  - 1975 May 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 664--668
VI  - 193
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/193/2/664.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/193/2/664.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther1975 May 01; 193
AB  - The concentrations of R(+)-and S(-)-pentobarbital and R(+)-and S(-)-secobarbital were determined in the brain stem, hypothalamus, cerebellum and cortex of mice after i.v. administration. No regional differences in enantiomer concentration or barbiturate/metabolite ratio were observed to account for the substantial potency differences reported for the enantiomeric forms of pentobarbital and secobarbital. Stereoselective differences in the rate of enantiomer metabolism and in stereochemical fit to the central nervous system receptor are discussed as possible reasons for the differences in duration of action.