Effect of Two New Analgetic Agents on the Oxygen Consumption of Brain In vitro.

Conclusion

Our experiments indicate that significant inhibitions of the oxygen consumption of brain slices may be obtained using the new analgetic agents Nu-1196 and Nu-1779 when this tissue respires on glucose, lactate, pyruvate, α- and β-glycerophosphate (52% α), citrate, and possibly succinate. It must be pointed out, however, that inhibitions due to drug with citrate as a substrate are to be considered quite dubious since the normal increase in O2 consumption by this substrate alone is so small. Doubtful inhibitions were produced when brain slices respired on glutamate and oxalacetate. Nu-1196 and Nu-1779 showed insignificant effects at concentrations less than 0.01M.

As in the case of demerol, methadon, and morphine reported by Elliott et al. 4 the concentrations of the new agents Nu-1196 and Nu-1779 required to produce significant inhibitions were vastly larger than that required in the production of in vivo effects.