Barbital sodium

Toxicity to reproduction: other studies

Administrative data

Endpoint:

toxicity to reproduction: other studies

Remarks:

THE EFFECTS OF BARBITURATES ON THE BEHAVIOR OF RAT OFFSPRING

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

other information

Study period:

1952

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

THE EFFECTS OF BARBITURATES ON THE BEHAVIOR OF RAT OFFSPRING AS MEASURED IN LEARNING AND REASONING SITUATIONS

Author:

STEWART G. ARMITAGE

Year:

1952

Bibliographic source:

Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology. Vol. 45, Pg. 146, 1952

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline available

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Barbital sodium

EC Number:

205-613-9

EC Name:

Barbital sodium

Cas Number:

144-02-5

Molecular formula:

C8H11N2O3.Na

IUPAC Name:

sodium 5,5-diethyl-4,6-dioxo-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-olate

Test material form:

not specified

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

not specified

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

Twenty-one females of the same age were selected from the laboratory colony and mated with five males. Nineteen and one-half days after breeding they were divided into subgroups and sodium barbital was administered. The normals received the same treatment as the experimental except that sterile saline solution was injected in place of the drug. The mean parturition time for both groups was 21.3 days with a range from 20.8 to 21.4 days. No difficult or prolonged deliveries were noted, and all deaths which did occur were a consequence of the drug dosage. After 21 days all the young were weaned. To prevent dietary deficiencies, the animals were given a
special food. The food association was started when the animals were 90 days old. For this purpose a small, simple, eight-unit T-maze was used. When the training had been completed, the rats were transferred to the experimental apparatus.

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

other: injection, not further specified

Vehicle:

other: sterile saline

Details on exposure:

Nineteen and one-half days after breeding rats were divided into subgroups and sodium barbital was administered (25 mg, 30 mg, 35 mg, 40 mg). The normals received the same treatment as the experimental except that sterile saline solution was injected in place of thedrug.

Duration of treatment / exposure:

single administration, nineteen and one-half days after breeding

Frequency of treatment:

single administration, nineteen and one-half days after breeding

Doses / concentrations

Doses / concentrations 1

Dose / conc.:

125 mg/kg bw (total dose)

Remarks:

An amount of 25 mg sodium barbital was administred. Body weight was not specified. Rat weight according to RTECS: 200 mg

Doses / concentrations 2

Dose / conc.:

150 mg/kg bw (total dose)

Remarks:

An amount of 30 mg sodium barbital was administred. Body weight was not specified. Rat weight according to RTECS: 200 mg

Doses / concentrations 3

Dose / conc.:

175 mg/kg bw (total dose)

Remarks:

An amount of 35 mg sodium barbital was administred. Body weight was not specified. Rat weight according to RTECS: 200 mg

Doses / concentrations 4

Dose / conc.:

200 mg/kg bw (total dose)

Remarks:

An amount of 40 mg sodium barbital was administred. Body weight was not specified. Rat weight according to RTECS: 200 mg

No. of animals per sex per dose:

125 mg/kg bw (total dose): 2 females (nineteen and one-half days after breeding)
150 mg/kg bw (total dose): 5 females (nineteen and one-half days after breeding)
175 mg/kg bw (total dose): 4 females (nineteen and one-half days after breeding)
200 mg/kg bw (total dose): 5 females (nineteen and one-half days after breeding)

Control animals:

yes, concurrent vehicle

Details on study design:

Twenty-one females of the same age were selected from the laboratory colony and mated with five males. Nineteen and one-half days after breeding they were divided into subgroups and sodium barbital was administered. The normals received the same treatment as the experimental except that sterile saline solution was injected in place of the drug. The mean parturition time for both groups was 21.3 days with a range from 20.8 to 21.4 days. No difficult or prolonged deliveries were noted, and all deaths which did occur were a consequence of the drug dosage. After 21 days all the young were weaned. To prevent dietary deficiencies, the animals were given a special food. The food association was started when the animals were 90 days old. For this purpose a small, simple, eight-unit T-maze was used.
When the training had been completed, the rats were transferred to the experimental apparatus. The two mazes were presented first, followed by the reasoning problem. A single trial was given in the mazes for the first two periods and then 3 trials were given per night until (a) a criterion of 5 perfect out of any 6 consecutive trials had been reached, or (b) 100 trials had been completed.

Results and discussion

Effect levels

Dose descriptor:

dose level: lowest dose to produce effect

Effect level:

125 mg/kg bw (total dose)

Based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect level:

behaviour (functional findings)

Observed effects

Sodium barbital had a definite effect upon the behavior of the offspring. Animals that had a drug background, when compared to those without the drug, were found to have reduced ability in the learning and reasoning situations employed in this study.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Sodium barbital had a definite effect upon the behavior (reduced ability in the learning and reasoning situations) of the offspring.

Executive summary:

Varying dosages of sodium barbital (125, 150, 175, 200 mg/kg bw total dose) were given to pregnant female rats prior to parturition. The offspring were tested in two mazes and a reasoning situation. It was found that sodium barbital had a definite effect upon the behavior of the offspring. Animals that had a drug background, when compared to those without the drug, were found to have reduced ability in the learning and reasoning situations employed in this study.