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677155 
Journal Article 
Anesthesia. XXXIII: The pharmacologic response to methylcyclobutane 
Krantz JC Jr; Carr, CJ; Vitcha, JF 
1949 
1 
Anesthesiology
ISSN: 0003-3022
EISSN: 1528-1175 
10 
5 
625-626 
The pharmacologic response to methylcyclobutane (108872) (MCB) was studied in dogs. Four dogs were exposed to MCB and oxygen vapors via a closed circuit method. The animals tolerated the vapors well. When 3 to 4 milliliters of MCB had been administered, the dogs exhibited marked tremors of the extremities. The tremors were interrupted intermittently by periods of extensor rigidity. The abdominal muscles did not relax. The muscles of the neck did not become flaccid and the wink reflex remained sharp. As more MCB was given, the animals began having convulsive seizures. Electrocardiograms recorded during this period were normal with the exception of an occasional inverted T-wave. In two dogs, epinephrine-hydrochloride (55312) (0.01 milligram per kilogram) was injected intravenously. Multifocal ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation appeared rapidly in these animals. Both recovered. The recovery period from the MCB syndrome was marked by excitation and vigorous running movements. The dogs appeared frightened and their recovery was characterized by repetitive convulsive seizures. The authors conclude that, unlike its parent compound, cyclobutane (287230), MCB cannot be used as an anesthetic. Since neither compound is metabolized, the central nervous system is apparently quite sensitive to molecular structure differences as subtle as those between cyclobutane and MCB.