[Changes in the rate of hexobarbital detoxication in rats during postnatal ontogenesis]

Studies have been made on changes in detoxication rate of hexenal in male and female rats ageing from 1 day to 32 months as revealed by the duration of sleep after the injection of a standard dose (100 mg/g) of the drug. It was shown that in the newborn rats of both sexes, the detoxication rate is the highest, decreasing 3-fold to the age of 45 days. Sexual differences were observed beginning from the 55-60th day, resulting originally from the increase in the duration of sleep in females during their earlier sexual maturation, and being significantly enhanced to the 75th day due to a sharp decrease of the duration of sleep in males. From the 3-4th day up to the 20-32nd month, sexual differences in the duration of sleep increase due to its progressive increase in females. In 3-32-month males, significant changes in the duration of sleep were not noted. Sexual differences in detoxication rate of hexenal persist also in old animals.