Abstract
The effects of varying doses of cephalic X-irradiation on barbiturate hypnosis have been studied in rats. Both the onset and the duration of hypnosis were found to be enhanced in the irradiated animals, the effect depending on the dose of radiation and the time postirradiation. This report also discusses the mechanisms underlying the interactive effects. The early onset of drug action is related to a faster drug entry into brain, resulting from the radiation-induced blood-brain barrier permeability changes. It is suggested that the prolongation of drug action is the result of a sensitization phenomenon, and a region-specific rise in brain serotonin is perhaps involved in the sensitization. The evidence for sensitization stems from the fact that the other possible contributory factors considered were found to be absent. Those considered were (1) persistence of effective drug levels in brain and (2) inhibition of drug-metabolizing enzymes in liver. It is also shown that, even at the high doses of radiation ...
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