title: Effects of halothane on the efflux of [3H]D-aspartate from rat brain slices.
abstract: The in vitro effects of halothane on the potassium-stimulation-induced efflux of [3H]D-aspartate in rat cerebral cortex slices were studied. The slices were initially incubated with Krebs-Ringer's solution containing [3H]D-aspartate, a putative excitatory transmitter. The slices were then stimulated with high concentrations of K+ in the presence and absence of halothane, and the efflux was measured using a scintillation counter. Halothane, 1% and 2%, had little effect on the potassium-stimulation-induced efflux, but that of 4 and 8% increased the efflux significantly. The spontaneous efflux was unaffected by all concentrations of halothane studied. The control study of pentobarbital, in the concentration of 0.05 to 1.00 mmol/l, reduced the efflux in a dose-related manner. These findings indicate that the release of an excitatory transmitter, aspartate, may not be involved in the mechanism of halothane anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Kyoto University Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hatano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D046508:Culture Techniques; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D014316:Tritium; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D010424:Pentobarbital; D011188:Potassium; D006221:Halothane