Potentiation of barbiturate- and halothane-induced hypnosis after probenecid or sulfinpyrazone pretreatment

The uricosuric agent, probenecid, when administered prior to systemic administration of pentobarbital led to a decreased latency, to loss of righting reflex and to a potentiation of the duration of hypnosis. This potentiation was dose-related and doses of probenecid below 50 mg/kg (i.p.) were without effect. Pretreatment of rats with sulfinpyrazone, another uricosuric agent, yielded similar results. Pretreatment of animals with probenecid shortened the latency to onset of hypnosis induced by halothane (i.p.) and increased the duration of loss of righting reflex, 3-fold. Both sulfinpyrazone and probenecid, administered prior to 1.0% inhalation halothane exposure, shortened the latency to onset of hypnosis in doses as small as 10 mg/kg, much less than the doses required to affect significantly pentobarbital-induced hypnosis. The results, as yet, do not indicate a plausible mechanism of action, but do expose a potentially useful drug interaction which may be of clinical use.