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Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 8, 458-467, Copyright © 1961 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Experimental Studies on the Fate of Decamethonium

B. GIOVANELLA 1, C. MANNI 1, P. MAZZONI 1, and G. MORICCA 1

1 Istituto Regina Elena per lo studio e la cura dei tumori, Rome. Direttore: Professore M. Margottini

The decamethonium blood concentration pattern following intravenous injection of C14 labelled C10 is characterized by two well-distinguished peaks, the first occurring at the time of injection, and the second after variable periods of time, depending on the dosage employed. Thus, the second peak was found to shift from 20–30 min. after injection when the administered dose was increased from 1.8 to 3.0 mg./kg., its time of onset fairly closely coinciding with the initial stage of decurarization, as shown by parallel experiments using graphic recording of faradically stimulated masseter contractions. Based on these findings, and from

previous studies by the same workers, an attempt was made to elucidate the causes for the unusual behaviour of C10 as compared to d-tubocurarine–the latter, as is well known, exhibiting a simple elimination curve with but one initial peak followed by gradual decrease of blood concentration levels.

Pre-treatment with a large dose of non-labelled decamethonium (5 mg./kg.) results in disappearance of the second peak, which is replaced by an extended "plateau," whereas pre-treatment with 100 mg./kg. d-tubocurarine causes displacement of both peaks towards the right. The evidence thus substantiates the authors' previously suggested opinion that the initial drop of decamethonium blood levels is associated with its fixation by muscle receptors, and that the second peak, corresponding to the decurarization stage, is due to re-introduction of either inactivated decamethonium or its radioactive degradation products from the muscles into the bloodstream.

Finally, the identity of receptors for decamethonium and d-tubocurarine is discussed.

Note:

Presented at the Second World Congress of Anaesthesiologists, Toronto, Canada, September 5–10, 1960. Each author has contributed equally to this paper.

Clinica Chirurgica, University of Rome. Direttore: Professore P. Valdoni.






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Copyright © 1961 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.