title: In vitro toxicity of halogenated anaesthetics on guineapig alveolar macrophages, surviving in gas phase.
abstract: The potential toxicity of halogenated anaesthetics on cellular immunity has been investigated on guineapig macrophages in gas phase by measuring the adenosine 5' triphosphate (ATP) concentration in the macrophages. A toxicity index (TI) was obtained by comparing the ATP concentration in vapour or gas-exposed macrophages with that of control cells. The TI for 5% halothane in air after 24 h was 31.2 +/- 8.3%. The TI for 5% enflurane in air was 12.7 +/- 6.6% (P less than 0.01). In an oxygen-enriched gas mixture (60%), the halothane TI increased to 65 +/- 6.6%, whereas that for enflurane remained at 15.4 +/- 16.9% (P less than 0.01). In macrophages exposed to 1% halothane, or 2% enflurane, in 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen, for 3 and 6 h, the halothane TI (0.4 +/- 3.3%) and the enflurane TI (2.5 +/- 4.1%) did not differ significant from the control group after 3 h. However, after 6 h exposure the halothane TI (31.3 +/- 9.6%) and the enflurane TI (17 +/- 20%) were different (P = 0.05) from control. It is concluded that the prolonged administration of high concentrations of halothane and enflurane alone decreased macrophages ATP concentration. A high concentration of oxygen in the gas mixture increased significantly the halothane TI.
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004737:Enflurane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D004737:Enflurane; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D006221:Halothane