tribromoethanol

Tribromoethanol is a halogenated small molecule general anesthetic and sedative. Historically developed by Bayer and marketed by Winthrop Laboratories under the brand name Avertin, it was used in human medicine as a basal anesthetic administered rectally or intravenously. Today, it is obsolete in human clinical practice but remains widely used in veterinary and laboratory research settings to induce rapid, short-term surgical anesthesia in rodents, particularly during the generation of transgenic mice. Tribromoethanol acts as a positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A and glycine receptors, enhancing inhibitory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. Due to its instability and tendency to degrade into toxic, tissue-irritating byproducts (such as dibromoacetaldehyde and hydrobromic acid) that can cause peritonitis, its preparation and storage are strictly regulated, and its use is typically restricted to single-dose or terminal procedures.

Brand names

AvertinAvertineBasibrolBrometholByk 250Byk250Byk-250EthobromEthobromeNarcolanNarcotylNarkolanRectanolRenarcol

Other names

2,2,2-tribromoethan-1-ol2,2,2-tribromoethanol2,2,2-tribromoethyl alcoholTBEtribromethanoltribromoethyl alcohol