Antianoxic Effect of Meclofenoxate related to Its Disposition

Effect of meclofenoxate against subacute anoxia in mice was tested in view of the fact that dimethylaminoethanol derived in the brain was sequentially metabolized from free alcohol to phospholipid. Some other agents were also tested to examine the test system used and to clarify the nature of meclofenoxate effect. Chlordiazepoxide, hexobarbital and meclofenoxate (either 20 min or 4 hr after intravenous administration) produced tolerance against anoxia, whereas methamphetamine exerted the opposite effect. An equimolar mixture of dimethylaminoethanol and p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, the constituents of meclofenoxate, was ineffective in this system. Chlordiazepoxide enhanced the effect of methamphetamine, whereas hexobarbital and meclofenoxate (20 min after administration) diminished the methamphetamine effect. The results were discussed in relation to the disposition of meclofenoxate in central nervous systems.