Effect of undernutrition on uptake and distribution of i.v. anaesthetic agents. A study in mice.

The uptake and distribution of two i.v. anaesthetics agents, thiopentone and Althesin, were studied in mice with normal and subnormal nutritional states. The results show that, following the administration of thiopentone, the induction time was signficantly shorter, and that the sleeping time was significantly longer following the administration of Althesin and thiopentone in mice that have low net protein utilization, and decreased total and dry body mass. The increase in the sleeping time in these undernourished mice was 2.2 times greater for Althesin and 4.0 times greater for thiopentone when compared with well-nourished mice.