title: Immunomodulating effects of halothane in mice.
abstract: Twenty mice were acutely exposed to 1.5% halothane anaesthesia for 4 h. The mice were sequentially killed during the first 3 days after halothane exposure. Another 14 mice were chronically exposed to 0.25% halothane for 1 h daily, four times weekly for 3 months. The mice were sequentially killed every week. Acute exposure to halothane anaesthesia resulted in an increase in lymphocyte count per spleen, a decrease in serum IgG concentrations (Day 2), a reduction in spontaneous 3H-thymidine lymphocytic uptake (Day 1), and an increase in concanavalin-A-stimulated uptake. All immunometric assays returned to control levels on Day 3 after halothane exposure. Chronic non-anaesthetic concentrations of halothane exposure produced a decrease in serum IgG concentrations and an increase in spontaneous and stimulated lymphocyte 3H-thymidine uptake. It is concluded that acute exposure of mice to anaesthetic halothane results in a transient depression of the immune response, while chronic non-anaesthetic concentrations produce a differential effect on the two moieties of the immune system, a depressed humoral response and overactive cellular response.
authors.affiliation: Urology and Nephrology Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Atallah
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Motawea
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: el-Chennawy
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Attallah
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006221:Halothane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D013936:Thymidine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013997:Time Factors; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014316:Tritium; D006221:Halothane; D013936:Thymidine