title: Volatile anesthetics inhibit the ion flux through Ca2+-activated K+ channels of rat glioma C6 cells.
abstract: Ca2+-activated K+ channels in rat glioma C6 cells were investigated using monolayers of these cells in petri dishes. The ion flux through the channels was studied with 86Rb+ after addition of a Ca2+-ionophore to the incubation medium. Both the influx and efflux of 86Rb+ through these Ca2+-activated K+ channels were inhibited by the general anesthetic halothane (at clinical concentrations). Other volatile anesthetics such as isoflurane, enflurane and methoxyflurane also inhibited the Ca2+-activated K+ channels at clinical concentrations. Inhibition of these channels by general anesthetics could have profound effects on signal transmission in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Virology and Immunology, University of Würzburg, F.R.G.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Tas
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kress
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koschel
mesh_terms: D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004987:Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism*; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology; D015759:Ionomycin; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012414:Rubidium Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D004987:Ethers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D012414:Rubidium Radioisotopes; D000001:Calcimycin; D015759:Ionomycin; D002118:Calcium; D006221:Halothane