Activity Rhythm in <i>Peromyscus</i> : Its Influence on Rates of Recovery from Nembutal

Abstract

Injection of sublethal doses of Nembutal (sodium pentobarbital) into deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus (Merriam), at diflerent times in their daily activity cycle revealed large differences in rates of recovery. By taking the phase of the circadian rhythm into account, the accuracy obtained in pharmaceutical and physiological bioassays could be increased.