title: Sites and mechanisms of action of halothane on skeletal muscle function in vitro.
abstract: In isolated rat diaphragm strips, halothane augments the tension produced during caffeine-induced contractures in a dose-related manner. Potassium-induced contracture tension is augmented in the presence of halothane to a concentration of 0.75 per cent, and decreased at halothane concentrations of more than 1 per cent. The time of peak tension for potassium-induced contractures is diminished by all halothane concentrations. T-tubular disruption by hypertonic glycerol does not alter anesthetic-induced augmentation of caffeine-induced contractures. It is postulated that halothane augments calcium-release processes in sarcoplasmic reticulum. Membrane events or excitation-contraction coupling steps may be also altered by halothane.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005990:Glycerol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D005990:Glycerol; D006221:Halothane