Succinate and artificial maintenance of normal body temperature synergistically correct lethal disorders in thiopental coma rat

Under modeling of thiopental coma influence of sodium succinate and (or) external warming for the support of normal body temperature (isothermal regimen) on the gas exchange, blood gas content, acid-base status and survival rate was studied in rats. In the absence of therapy hypothermia was developed (−9.4 °C), O2 consumption decreased by a factor 5, oxygenation of arterial blood (pO2) did not change while that of venous blood increased, wherewith arteriovenous oxygen tension gradient decreased by half. Blood tension of carbon dioxide (pCO2) increased twice, respiratory and metabolic acidosis was developed. Survival rate under absence of a therapy was 42%, with isolated use of isothermal regimen or succinate therapy alike-50%; with their use in combination drastically increased up to 92%. Succinate increased arteriovenous gradient of pO2, decreased deficit of buffer bases, increased bicarbonate concentration. At isothermal regimen accumulation of CO2 in the blood was diminished, its excretion was increased, pH of blood approached normal values. Combined use of both therapy agents increased O2 consumption and potentiated their positive influence on acid-base status. The implication is that hypothermia restrains effect of succinate in barbiturate coma; prevention of hypothermia in combination with succinate administration is highly effective method of experimental therapy of barbiturate intoxication.