Effects of Glutamate on the Potentiating Action of Certain Ataraxics

Abstract

Glutamate as the monosodium salt (MSG) was administered to mice alone or in combination with proclorperazine or reserpine. Sleeping time of mice induced by hexobarbital (100 mg/kg) was measured after these combinations. Reserpine (5 mg/kg) markedly potentiated the barbiturate. Administration of glutamate (1,2 and 3 g/kg) caused a further and pronounced increase in the sleeping time. This further potentiation of the ataraxic was not observed when proclorperazine (Compazine) was substituted for the reserpine although proclorperazine (5 mg/kg) also increased the duration of hexobarbital hypnosis. This suggests that the specificity of this effect of MSG is probably dependent upon the chemical class of tranquilizer. Male mice were more sensitive to the depressant drugs.