Barbiturates inhibit stress-induced analgesia.

The effect of pentobarbitone and thiopentone on stress-induced analgesia was studied in 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Antinociception was determined by measuring motor reaction threshold to the noxious pressure on the tail with the use of an "Analgesymeter." Stress was induced by placement of a clamp on the hind paw. The stress procedure was found to cause an increase in reaction threshold, which was partially suppressed by naloxone 0.5 mg X kg-1. Pentobarbitone in a subanaesthetic dose of 25 mg X kg-1, SC, almost completely abolished the stress-induced increase in the reaction threshold (an increase in reaction threshold from 329 +/- 33 g to 486 +/- 62 g in control group, and from 250 +/- 26 g to 273 +/- 35 g in pentobarbitone group, p less than 0.02 for the difference in the threshold changes). Thiopentone used in a dose of 25 mg X kg-1, IV, caused a loss of the righting reflex for 37 +/- 10 minutes; stress procedure applied ten minutes after regaining the righting reflex did not cause any increase in the reaction threshold (with an increase in the reaction threshold in control group from 355 +/- 50 g to 540 +/- 26 g, p less than 0.001 for the difference between the groups). The results suggest that the barbiturates in subanaesthetic doses inhibit stress-induced analgesia. Thiopentone used in an anaesthetic dose has the potential for inhibition of stress-induced analgesia in the period of recovery from anaesthesia.