Studies on the neuropharmacology of tert-butylurea in mice

Tertiary butylurea has been investigated neuropharmacologically in mice and rats, and the results indicate that the compound possesses a marked CNS activity. It exhibited a pronounced activity against pentetrazole-induced convulsions and lethality, but the protection against strychnine-induced convulsions and lethality, was only partial. A significant prolongation of pentobarbital sleeping time by a subsedative dose of tert-butylurea was also observed. Protection afforded by tert-butylurea against tremorine-induced tremors and the intensity of its analgesic activity were both of moderate degree. In a subsedative dose range, tert-butylurea exhibited motor incoordination and behavioral effects with a decrease in the minor and the major movements of animals, as apparent from the treadmill and activity meter experiments respectively. The compound, however, does not seem to be a potent sedative-hypnotic agent, although there is a fairly good margin of safety between the hypnotic and the lethal dose orally. The anti-pentetrazole activity of tert-butylurea suggests its possible effectiveness against 'petit mal' seizures and, therefore, calls for additional studies to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of tert-butylurea.