title: Anesthetics affect membrane heterogeneity.
abstract: A computer-simulation study is performed on a simple but general molecular model of the interaction of general and local anesthetics with lipid membranes. In the neighborhood of the gel-to-fluid membrane phase transition it is found that anesthetics have a strong effect on the heterogeneity of the membrane-inducing regions of locally high anesthetics concentration. This leads to a broadening of the specific heat peak and a maximum in the membrane/water partition coefficient. These results are in accordance with available experimental data for volatile general anesthetics like halothane and local anesthetics like cocaine derivatives.
authors.affiliation: Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ipsen
authors.forename: O G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Mouritsen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zuckermann
mesh_terms: D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000737:chemistry*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000737:chemistry*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008954:Models, Biological; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine