Summary

Zusammenfassung

With W. BUshart in the chair, the morning session was opened by Mrs. M. FRahm with a comprehensive paper entitled “Pharmacological Investigations of Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid Derivatives”. Mrs. FRahm reported the results of experiments on animals with gamma-hydroxybutyric acid ethylester (GHB-E). These investigations showed that GHB-E, with a relatively lower toxicity than that of the corresponding sodium salt of GHB, is a more effective hypnotic and exhibits a better relationship between the toxic and the effective dose. Soporific action takes effect more rapidly. In experiments on animals GHB-E shows certain analgesic properties but their degree has not yet been established quantitatively. The action of GHB-E can be reinforced with barbiturates without any significant change in the duration of sleep and without impairing breathing. Whereas GHB exerts a sedative action for a considerable length of time after the animals wake up, the test animals became completely lively again immediately after the end of the soporific effect of GHB ester; this finding is typical of the ester. In cases of cardiazol spasms GHB lowers the spasm threshold in the wearing-off stage of anaesthesia; this effect is not so pronounced with GHB ester.