title: Differential effects of desflurane and halothane on peripheral airway smooth muscle.
abstract: Volatile anaesthetics have been shown to have direct relaxant effects on airway smooth muscle. We have examined the effects of 0.9, 1.9, and 2.8 dog MAC of desflurane and halothane on isolated proximal and distal canine airways precontracted with acetylcholine. The proximal and distal airway smooth muscle relaxed with increasing concentration of each anaesthetic in a dose-related manner. Desflurane had a greater relaxant effect than halothane on the proximal airway only at 2.8 MAC. Desflurane relaxed the distal airway to a greater extent than halothane at 1.9 and 2.8 MAC. The distal airway smooth muscle was more sensitive to volatile anaesthetics than the proximal airway smooth muscle with either halothane or desflurane at all concentrations tested. This effect may be a result of differences in cartilage content, myosin content, epithelium-dependent effects, receptor density, myofilament sensitivity to Ca2+, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ control, or ionic fluxes in the proximal airway compared with the distal airway. The increased sensitivity of airway smooth muscle to desflurane compared with halothane is not known but may be related to possible differences in the effects of Ca2+ homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mazzeo
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Bosnjak
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Coon
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kampine
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077335:Desflurane; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D000077335:Desflurane; D007530:Isoflurane; D000109:Acetylcholine; D006221:Halothane