BACKGROUND One underexploited property of anesthetics is their ability to probe neuronal regulation of arousal. At appropriate doses, anesthetics reversibly obtund conscious perception. However, individual anesthetic agents may accomplish this by altering the function of distinct neuronal populations. Previously the authors showed that isoflurane and sevoflurane inhibit orexinergic neurons, del...

The mechanism of action of halothane is not fully understood in pulmonary circulation and especially in chronic hypertension models. As the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) pulmonary vasoconstrictor response increases in chronic hypoxic rat, halothane could differentially attenuate this vasoconstriction response on normoxic and chronic hypoxic rats. The effect of halothane on 5-HT-induced contraction...

We have studied the effect of age on washin of isoflurane and halothane by comparing end-tidal (PE') and arterial (Pa) partial pressures of the agents in young (18-32 yr) and elderly (63-82 yr) healthy patients for 20 min after introduction of the agents, before surgery. PE' was measured by infra-red analysis and Pa by gas chromatography. Washin of isoflurane occurred at the same rate in the yo...

To elucidate the pathogenesis of halothane-induced hepatopathy, the changes of hepatic tissue phospholipid peroxidation, malondialdehydes (MDAs), and antioxidative enzyme activities were examined in the portal vein arterialized dogs with halothane inhalation. In group A, which was given halothane inhalation under the hepatic blood flow volume less than 10% of pre-operation volume designated as ...

In the present study we have investigated the effects of cytosolic Mg on halothane-induced Ca release from the SR. Rats (200–250 g) were humanely killed (Schedule 1). Single extensor digitorium longus (EDL) muscle fibres were mechanically skinned and perfused with solutions approximating to the intracellular milieu containing (mM): KCl, 100; Hepes, 25; EGTA, 0.15; phosphocreatine, 10; ATP, 5. T...

NAH~WOLD, M. L., W. H. HESS AND D. R. BETHELL. ~~~1~~~~~~ and ~at?tjtz(~but~~ri~ acid in ~~Ilt~red cells of nervou.s wirm origin. BRAIN RES. BULL. 5: Suppl. 2,477-483, 1980.-C-1300 neuroblastoma and C-4 astrocytoma cells in culture were utilized as models of y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism in neurons and glia, respectively. Both cell lines were exposed to 0, 0.7, 1.0, 1.7, or 3.0% halotha...

General anesthetics are thought to act on both excitatory and inhibitory neuronal pathways at both post- and presynaptic sites. However, the literature in these regards is somewhat controversial. The aim of the present study was to reassess the relative importance of the various anesthetic actions using a common preparation. Rat cortical neurons in primary culture were used to record spontaneou...

The effects of sevoflurane on myocardial contraction and relaxation are poorly understood. Therefore, we studied the effects of equianaesthetic concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 MAC) of sevoflurane, isoflurane and halothane on inotropic and lusitropic (myocardial relaxation) variables, and post-rest potentiation in rat left ventricular papillary muscles in vitro. Sevoflurane and isoflurane...

A retrospective study of eleven cases of unexplained postoperative jaundice revealed that in four cases anaesthesia did not include halothane. In all the cases there was difficulty in obtaining full details about the patient, and in some cases all relevant information was missing. Of the seven cases who were given halothane, in only two was there no other obvious cause of the jaundice than halo...

BACKGROUND: The possibility exists for major complications to occur when individuals are intoxicated with alcohol prior to anesthetization. Halothane is an anesthetic that can be metabolized by the liver into a highly reactive product, trifluoroacetyl chloride, which reacts with endogenous proteins to form a trifluoroacetyl-adduct (TFA-adduct). The MAA-adduct which is formed by acetaldehyde (AA...