Isoallopregnanolone; an antagonist to the anaesthetic effect of allopregnanolone in male rats

• The interaction of isoallopregnanolone (3β-OH-5α-pregnan-20-one) on allopregnanolone (3α-OH-5α-pregnan-20-one) induced anaesthesia was studied in male rats using burst suppression of 1 s (“silent second”) with an electroencephalographic-threshold method. The i.v. administration of isoallopregnanolone was varied in relation to induction of “silent second”. Pre-treatment with isoallopregnanolone (12.5–50 mg/kg iv) 2 min prior to the threshold test gave an increase in the threshold dose of allopregnanolone(ANOVA df(3;36), F=13.61, P<0.001), which was dose dependent (r=0.73, b [slope]=0.08, df=38, P<0.001). After isoallopregnanolone pre-treatment, but not in the controls, anaesthesia time was positively related to the dose of allopregnanolone (r=0.52, b=1.72, df=28,P<0.01). Anaesthesia times were not influenced by a corresponding administration of isoallopregnanolone immediately after induction of “silent second”. When allopregnanolone and isoallopregnanolone were infused together at molar ratios of 1:1, 1:1.23, 1:1.43, a linear increase of the threshold doses of allopregnanolone was seen in relation to the dose of isoallopregnanolone (r=0.86, b=0.40, df=8,P<0.01). Thus isoallopregnanolone can antagonise the anaesthetic action of allopregnanolone. 

Keyword

Anesthetics/*antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry

Animals

Dose-Response Relationship; Drug

Electroencephalography

Male

Pregnanolone/*antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/*pharmacology

Rats

Rats; Sprague-Dawley

Stereoisomerism

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)