Factors affecting the rate of disappearance of amphetamine in rats

Abstract

The rate of disappearance of amphetamine is faster in male adult Sprague-Dawley rats than in adult females. Estradiol (0·8 mg/kg s.c. for 16 days) slow down the rate ofd-amphetamine disappearance in adult male rats. The half-life (T12) ofd-amphetamine in young male rats is greater than in adult male or female rats. Pretreatment of rats with either phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene in doses sufficient to decrease theT₁₂ of hexobarbital and zoxazolamine does not change the tissue levels ofd-amphetamine. Diphenylhydantoin, another inducer of liver microsomal aromatic hydroxylase, does not increase and actually decreases the rate ofd-amphetamine disappearance.