Sex Differences in the Induction of Physical Dependence on Pentobarbital in the Rat

Sex differences in physical dependence on sodium pentobarbital in the rat were studied by the drug-admixed food (DAF) method. With male rats, the concentration of pentobarbital in the food was gradually increased from 2 to 30 mg/g over a period of 50 days. The final level of drug intake was approximately 1.7 g/kg/day. At pentobarbital concentrations of 20 and 22 mg/g of food, sedation and mild muscle relaxation were observed. At the highest drug concentration, 30 mg/g of food, marked muscle relaxation was noted. With female rats, the concentration of pentobarbital in the food was gradually increased from 1 to 16 mg/g over a period of 47 days. The final level of intake was approximately 1.0 mg/kg/day. At drug concentrations of 12 and 14 mg/g, sedation and mild muscle relaxation appeared. At 16 mg/g, female rats showed marked muscle relaxation similar to that of the male rats. To produce severe loss of muscle tone, the male rats required twice as much pentobarbital as the female rats. After substitution of normal food for the pentobarbital-admixed food, various signs of pentobarbital withdrawal occurred in both sexes. These signs included vocalization, irritability, muscle rigidity, tremors and convulsions. Onset of withdrawal was more rapid in the females, and the maximum weight loss was greater, 8.0% compared to 3.8% in the males. Physical dependence on pentobarbital was easily developed in both sexes by the DAF method. There was a marked sex difference in withdrawal which we attribute to sex differences in drug metabolizing enzyme activity.