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Y Vulliemoz

Publications and source records attributed to Y Vulliemoz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Interaction of the alpha-2 adrenergic- and opioid receptor with the cGMP system in the mouse cerebellum.

The alpha-2 adrenergic agonist dexmedetomidine (Dex), 3-300 microg/kg, i.p., decreased cerebellar cGMP in a dose-dependent manner. Fentanyl (F), an opioid agonist, increased cerebellar cGMP at 0.3 mg/kg, s.c., and decreased it at doses >/=1 mg/kg. The inhibitory effect was receptor specific, that of Dex being blocked by the alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist yohimbine, 5 mg/kg, i.p.; that of F by the opioid antagonist naloxone, 5 mg/kg, i.p. In contrast the stimulatory effect of F was blocked by both naloxone and yohimbine. Yohimbine also enhanced the inhibitory effect of F. In mice pretreated with pertussis toxin, 2 microgram/mouse, given i.c.v. 72 h before the agonists, the decrease in cGMP induced by Dex or F was not affected, while the stimulatory effect of F was reversed to an inhibitory effect. When inhibiting doses of F and Dex were administered together, the cGMP response was smaller than the sum of the individual responses. Dex attenuated in a dose-dependent manner the decrease in cGMP induced by F, and unmasked or enhanced the stimulatory effect of F. These results show that the alpha-2 adrenergic- and opioid-receptors are coupled to the cGMP effector system and suggest that the two pathways converge at a common post-receptor site in the cascade of events transducing the receptor signal to cGMP regulation.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1998

The nitric oxide-cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate signal transduction pathway in the mechanism of action of general anesthetics.

(1) The nitric oxide-cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) system is a major signaling transduction pathway implicated in a wide range of physiologic and pathophysiologic functions of the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, nervous or immune systems. (2) Evidence is provided that, at anesthetic concentrations, volatile and intravenous anesthetics interact with the NO-cGMP system. They have been shown to produce a decrease in cGMP in neuronal and vascular tissue. (3) Inhibition of NO synthesis produces a dose-dependent reversible decrease in the minimum anesthetic requirement and in the ED50 for the loss of righting reflex induced by general anesthetics. Volatile anesthetics also inhibit the NO-mediated relaxation in many vascular beds. (4) The selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, dexmedetomidine, which has potent sedative/hypnotic, anesthetic sparing and analgesic properties, produces a dose-dependent, reversible decrease in cGMP in mouse cerebellum at concentrations that decrease the anesthetic requirement of volatile anesthetics or induce a loss of righting reflex, an effect eliminated when NO synthase is inhibited. The site and mechanism by which the anesthetics interact with the NO-cGMP system is not yet clear and may vary with the anesthetic.

Anesthetics, General↗
PubMed1997

Plasma neuropeptide Y and catecholamines in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac operations.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess the sympathoadrenal response in pediatric patients undergoing repair of congenital cardiac defects. METHODS: Plasma catecholamine (norepinephrine and epinephrine) and neuropeptide Y concentrations were quantified before and after cardiopulmonary bypass to assess the response to cardiopulmonary bypass. To determine the response to aortic occlusion, levels of plasma catecholamines and neuropeptide Y were measured at the time of and immediately after release of the aortic crossclamp. RESULTS: During cardiopulmonary bypass, no significant change in levels of plasma norepinephrine (n = 43), epinephrine (n = 37), or neuropeptide Y (n = 46) was observed. Aortic occlusion induced a significant increase in plasma neuropeptide Y, but not in catecholamines. There was a greater increase in plasma neuropeptide Y in children older than age 1 year than in those younger than 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma neuropeptide Y may be a useful marker of sympathetic nervous system activity. Children younger than age 1 year showed a lesser sympathetic response compared with the response in older children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Intra-arterial nitrovasodilators do not increase cerebral blood flow in angiographically normal territories of arteriovenous malformation patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The mechanism of adaptation to chronic cerebral hypotension in normal brain adjacent to cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is unknown. To clarify these mechanisms, we performed cerebral blood flow (CBF) studies in structurally and functionally normal vascular territories during 53 distal cerebral angiographic procedures in 37 patients with AVMs. METHODS: CBF was measured using the superselective intra-arterial 133Xe method before and after a 3-minute infusion of either verapamil (1 mg.min-1, n = 23), acetylcholine (1.33 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, n = 7), nitroprusside (0.5 microgram.kg-1.min-1, n = 16) or nitroglycerin (0.5 microgram.kg-1.min-1, n = 7). RESULTS: Mean +/- SD systemic (76 +/- 13 mm Hg) and distal cerebral arterial (55 +/- 16 mm Hg; range, 20 to 97 mm Hg) pressures were not different among groups. Verapamil increased CBF (45 +/- 12 to 65 +/- 21 mL.100 g-1.min-1, P < .001). There was no effect of acetylcholine (no change [46 +/- 9 to 46 +/- 9 mL.100 g-1.min-1], NS) or nitroglycerin (36 +/- 14 to 36 +/- 13 mL.100 g-1.min-1, NS). Nitroprusside decreased CBF (40 +/- 12 to 31 +/- 11 mL.100 g-1.min-1, P < .001). The percent change in CBF after drug administration was proportional to cerebral arterial pressure for verapamil only (r = .57, P = .0051). CONCLUSIONS: When infused intra-arterially in clinically relevant doses in both hypotensive and normotensive normal vascular territories remote from an AVM nidus, calcium channel blockade caused vasodilation, but there was an absence of response to nitric oxide-mediated vasodilators. These data suggest that (1) the nitric oxide pathway probably is not involved in the adaptation to chronic cerebral hypotension in AVM patients and (2) if our findings in vessels remote from or contralateral to the AVM are applicable to vessels of patients with other forms of cerebrovascular disease, clinically relevant doses of intra-arterial nitrovasodilators may not be useful in the manipulation of cerebrovascular resistance.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1996

Alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists decrease cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate in the mouse brain.

BACKGROUND: In the central nervous system neurotransmitters, drugs or conditions that excite increase cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP), an effect mediated by the neuromodulator nitric oxide, whereas those that sedate decrease cGMP. Volatile anesthetics were shown to decrease cerebellar cGMP, an effect that correlates with their anesthetic and anticonvulsant effect. Because alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists have anesthetic properties, the role of the nitric oxide-cGMP pathway in the action of the alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists clonidine and dexmedetomidine was investigated. METHODS: Groups of mice were given, intraperitoneally, one dose of either 30-600 micrograms/kg clonidine, or 3-300 micrograms/kg D-medetomidine (dexmedetomidine) or L-medetomidine. The alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonists, 0.3-5 mg/kg yohimbine or 1 mg/kg atipamezole, 1 mg/kg of the alpha-1 antagonist prazosin, and 10-300 mg/kg of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, N omega-nitro-1-arginine methylester and N omega-nitro-1-arginine, were given 10-20 min before the agonist. The mice were killed by microwave radiation focused to the head. Cyclic GMP was measured by radioimmunoassay in deproteinized extracts from different brain areas. RESULTS: Clonidine and dexmedetomidine, at sedative doses, dose-dependently decreased cerebellar cGMP (ED50: 100 and 50 micrograms/kg for clonidine and dexmedetomidine, respectively). This effect was inhibited by yohimbine and atipamezole, but not by prazosin, confirming the alpha-2 nature of the response to the agonists. L-medetomidine, which has no sedative/hypnotic effect, did not decrease cGMP. Pretreatment of the mice with a maximum dose of 100 mg/kg of a nitric oxide synthase antagonist abolished the cGMP response to the agonists. Similar results were obtained in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and caudate nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the nitric oxide-cGMP pathway is an effector system coupled to the alpha-2 adrenoceptor mediating sedation.

Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists↗
PubMed1996

Muscarinic receptor heterogeneity in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes in culture.

Carbachol increased ventricular automaticity in a concentration-dependent fashion from a control rate of 72 +/- 5 (mean +/- SEM) to 86 +/- 4 beats per minute at 10(-4) M carbachol. Pirenzepine, an M1-selective antagonist, and AFDX 116, an M2-selective antagonist, both at 10(-7) M, did not block the carbachol-induced positive chronotropic response. In contrast, 10(-7) M HHSiD, an M3-selective antagonist, completely blocked the positive chronotropic effect of carbachol. Carbachol stimulated the accumulation of IP1 in a concentration-dependent manner at concentrations > or = 3 x 10(-6) M. AFDX 116 had no effect on carbachol-induced IP1 accumulation. HHSiD significantly inhibited IP1 accumulation at concentrations > or = 3 x 10(-8) M, while pirenzepine inhibited IP1 accumulation only at concentrations > or = 10(-5) M. McN A343 and methacholine, two muscarinic receptor agonists with minimal M2 activities, and carbachol did not alter basal cAMP concentration, but all three agonists significantly attenuated the increase in cAMP accumulation in response to isoproterenol. Carbachol inhibited isoproterenol-mediated cAMP accumulation at concentrations > or = 10(-7) M. AFDX 116, HHSiD, and pirenzepine blocked the carbachol-induced inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation. At equimolar concentrations, the inhibitory effects of HHSiD and AFDX-116 were similar, while that of pirenzepine was much less. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin for 24 h did not prevent the carbachol-mediated positive chronotropic response or accumulation of IP1 but completely abolished the inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation. These results indicate that (a) neonatal ventricular myocytes in culture have a heterogeneous population of muscarinic (M2 and M3) receptors, (b) the M3 receptor is coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive and pertussis toxin-insensitive G proteins, (c) M3 receptor stimulation activates phosphoinositide hydrolysis and increases automaticity via a pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein-dependent pathway, and (d) both M2 and M3 receptors couple to pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein(s) to mediate the inhibition of intracellular cAMP accumulation in response to isoproterenol stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Superselective intraarterial papaverine administration: effect on regional cerebral blood flow in patients with arteriovenous malformations.

In this study the authors determined the effect of papaverine on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the angiographically normal arteriolar beds of patients with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) who underwent transfemoral superselective angiography. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) branch vessels were catheterized during 10 procedures performed in nine patients. The mean (+/- standard deviation) largest AVM diameter was 4.4 +/- 1 cm. Regional CBF was measured by recording the washout of a bolus of xenon-133 injected through the microcatheter. In a dose-ranging study. rCBF and MCA pressure in two patients were repeatedly measured after 3-minute infusions of papaverine at 0.07, 0.7, and 7 mg/minute. In a single-dose study, an additional eight patients received only the highest dose of papaverine administered over a 3-minute period. In the dose-ranging study, CBF increased from baseline in a dose-dependent fashion. In the single-dose study, papaverine increased in rCBF 103%, from 48 +/- 11 to 95 +/- 23 ml/100 g/minute at an MCA pressure of 55 +/- 23 mm Hg. Increase in rCBF was linearly related (y = 2.2x - 17, r2 = 0.84; p = 0.001) to baseline MCA pressure (range 22-84 mm Hg). Papaverine increases rCBF in a direct proportion to baseline MCA pressure, even at low baseline pressures. Selective infusion of vasodilators should be investigated in acute cerebral hypotension to facilitate either primary or collateral recruitment of CBF by aiding spontaneous autoregulatory vasodilation. In addition, rCBF monitoring may be useful in determining the most effective intraarterial dose of papaverine while minimizing complications due to hyperemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

An excitatory muscarinic response in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes and its modulation by sympathetic innervation.

Previously, we demonstrated that low concentrations of acetylcholine (< or = 10(-9) M) increased automaticity in neonatal but not in adult rat ventricular myocardium. In the present study, we used cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes grown alone or in the presence of dissociated sympathetic neurons as an experimental model to study the ontogeny of the muscarinic response. McN A343 (< or = 10(-9) M), an M1 selective agonist, increased spontaneous rate from 51 +/- 4 to 56 +/- 5 beats per minute (bpm), and this excitatory response was blocked by 10(-9) M pirenzepine, an M1 selective antagonist, but not by the M2 selective antagonist AFDX-116, nor by the alpha 1 adrenergic antagonist prazosin and the beta adrenergic antagonist propranolol (all 10(-7) M) In innervated myocytes, McN A343 also increased rate from 48 +/- 6 to 55 +/- 6 bpm. However, this effect was blocked by either 10(-9) M pirenzepine or 10(-7) M propranolol. After pretreatment with 10 ng/ml of pertussis toxin, the McN A343-induced excitatory response in non-innervated myocytes was absent, thus suggesting that this response involved a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein dependent pathway. McN A343 failed to stimulate inositol phosphate or cAMP accumulation in non-innervated myocytes. These results demonstrate the following. (1) The muscarinic excitatory response is mediated via direct stimulation of a post-synaptic M1 receptor in non-innervated myocytes. (2) The excitatory response after innervation is related to the release of catecholamines, possibly through activation of muscarinic receptors located at the pre-synaptic sympathetic nerve terminals. (3) Sympathetic innervation prevents the functional expression of the post-synaptic myocardial M1 receptor. (4) The intracellular pathway for the post-synaptic M1 excitatory response involves a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein, but does not depend on obvious changes in cAMP or phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethy↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate metabolism by guanine nucleotides in membranes of cultured newborn rat cardiomyocytes.

Membranes of cultured newborn rat cardiomyocytes contain enzymatic activities that regulate the formation and the breakdown of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (1,4,5-IP3). GTP gamma S increased the rate of exogenous [3H]phosphatidyl 4,5-bisphosphate ([3H]PIP2) hydrolysis (EC50: 40 microM). This effect was dependent on the presence of deoxycholate and maximal at 2 mM deoxycholate. GTP gamma S increased the efficacy of phospholipase C (PLC) (by 2.3-fold), but did not alter the apparent affinity of the enzyme for PIP2. Other nucleotides, GDP beta S and ATP gamma S, and pyrophosphate also stimulated PIP2 hydrolysis, while AlF4- was ineffective. The effect of GTP gamma S was not inhibited by GDP beta S. The agonists norepinephrine and thrombin, which by themselves had no effect, did not potentiate the response to GTP gamma S. In contrast, 1,4,5-IP3 hydrolysis was decreased by GTP gamma S (EC50: 100 microM) as well as by other nucleotides and by pyrophosphate, but not by AlF4-. GDP beta S did not antagonize the GTP gamma S-induced inhibition of IP3 hydrolysis. These results suggest that GTP can stimulate the hydrolysis of exogenous PIP2 by an action on membrane-bound PLC at a site beyond the G protein activating PLC and inhibit the hydrolysis of 1,4,5-IP3 by a mechanism common to all nucleotides. Thus, GTP can regulate 1,4,5-IP3 metabolism by stimulating its formation and inhibiting its breakdown.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Cardiac surgery causes desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor system of human lymphocytes.

Thirteen patients undergoing cardiac surgery were studied to examine whether beta-adrenergic desensitization occurs in the perioperative period surrounding cardiac surgery, using peripheral blood lymphocytes as a model. Lymphocytes were isolated before induction of anesthesia (PRE) and on the morning of the first postoperative day (POST). Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production from the lymphocytes was assayed in the untreated (BASAL) state, and after treatment with 5 microM isoproterenol, 10 microM prostaglandin E1, or 20 mM sodium fluoride with 10 microM AlCl3 (NaF). All cAMP values are reported as picomoles per 10(6) cells, mean +/- SEM. BASAL cAMP production did not change significantly between the PRE and POST samples (PRE, 1.2 +/- 0.1; POST, 1.0 +/- 0.1). Isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP was significantly lower postoperatively (PRE, 8.36 +/- 0.9; POST, 5.1 +/- 0.5; P less than 0.005). Prostaglandin E1-stimulated cAMP did not change (PRE, 21.7 +/- 2.4; POST, 25.3 +/- 2.5), and NaF-stimulated cAMP was increased postoperatively (PRE, 8.8 +/- 1.6; POST, 14.3 +/- 2.0; P less than 0.05). These findings suggest that cardiac surgery and/or cardiopulmonary bypass results in significant desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor/adenylate cyclase system of lymphocytes, which may parallel changes in the adrenergic response of other organ systems.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The myocardial depressant effect of volatile anesthetics does not involve arachidonic acid metabolites or pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins.

The involvement of the phospholipid-arachidonic acid pathway and of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein in the myocardial depressant effect of volatile anesthetics was examined in the rat heart left papillary muscle and atria. Neither phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase antagonists altered the potency or the efficacy of clinically used concentrations of halothane and isoflurane in decreasing the contractile force of the muscles. Pretreatment of rats with pertussis toxin (50 micrograms/kg i.v., 72 h before sacrifice), which abolished the myocardial depressant effect of muscarinic agonists, did not prevent the decrease in contractile force induced by the anesthetics. The results of this study indicate that the cellular mechanism of the myocardial depressant effect of volatile anesthetics does not involve a metabolite of the phospholipid-arachidonic acid pathway, does not require a functional pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein, and differs from that of muscarinic agonists.

Anesthetics↗
PubMed1989

Effect of clonidine on myocardial cyclic GMP content in the mouse-activation of central and peripheral alpha adrenoceptors.

Clonidine (0.23-3.77 mumol/kg i.p.) produced a dose-dependent increase in mouse myocardial cyclic GMP (cGMP) content. This effect was antagonized by yohimbine (0.03-1 mg/kg i.p.), but not by prazosin (1 mg/kg i.p.). The inhibition by yohimbine was biphasic. The cGMP response to clonidine was inhibited by atropine (5 mg/kg i.p.) and methylatropine (0.2-5 mg/kg i.p.). In mice pretreated with the ganglionic blocker hexamethonium, the cGMP response to clonidine persisted. St-91 [(2,6-diethylphenylamino)-2-imidazoline] (0.39-3.94 mumol/kg i.p.), a cogener of clonidine which does not cross the blood-brain barrier, also increased myocardial cGMP content. The potency of clonidine was similar in mice pretreated and nonpretreated with hexamethonium. Methylatropine did not affect the cGMP response to St-91 and to clonidine in ganglionectomized mice and yohimbine was a less potent antagonist. These results indicate that systemic administration of clonidine produces an increase in myocardial cGMP content by both a central and a peripheral action. The increase in cGMP can be due to a direct activation of cardiac prejunctional alpha-2 adrenoceptors and to stimulation of cardiac muscarinic receptors, a response secondary to an action of clonidine on central alpha-2 adrenoceptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Halothane interaction with guanine nucleotide binding proteins in mouse heart.

Volatile anesthetics have been shown to decrease hormone-induced adenosine cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) formation and to increase guanosine cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) content in mouse ventricular myocardium. Hormone-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase, the enzyme that synthesizes cAMP, and the cGMP response to alpha adrenergic agonists are mediated by a guanine nucleotide binding protein (N) sensitive to pertussis toxin. To evaluate the involvement of N proteins in the action of halothane on cyclic nucleotides in the heart, mice were pretreated with pertussis toxin, 50 micrograms/kg, ip, 72 h prior to exposure to halothane, 1.2 vol%. Pretreatment with the toxin decreased the cGMP response to halothane by 65% but was without effect on the decrease in myocardial cAMP induced by the anesthetic. The results indicate that a functionally active pertussis toxin-sensitive N protein is involved in the cGMP response to halothane, but not in the cAMP response.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗
PubMed1986

Effect of halothane on myocardial cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP content of mice.

Halothane, in anesthetic concentrations (0.6-1.8 volumes/100 ml), produced a dose-dependent decrease in myocardial cyclic AMP (cAMP) content and an increase in cyclic GMP (cGMP) content in mice exposed to a continuous flow of the anesthetic carried in air for 15 min. Atropine (up to 20 mg/kg i.p.) did not alter significantly the myocardial cyclic nucleotides content or the effect of halothane on cAMP and cGMP content. Prazosin and yohimbine had no significant effect on cAMP or cGMP content in the absence of halothane. Both alpha adrenergic antagonists inhibited the halothane-induced increase in cGMP content (ID50, 0.24 and 0.54 mumol/kg i.p. for prazosin and yohimbine, respectively). In contrast, the decrease in cAMP content induced by halothane was not altered by alpha adrenergic antagonists. Propranolol (2 mg/kg i.p.) diminished myocardial cAMP level and prevented the halothane effect on myocardial cAMP content. Pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine did not change the cGMP response to halothane. Thus, the action of halothane on myocardial cyclic nucleotides content appears to be predominantly a peripheral effect, not related to cellular mechanisms mediated by muscarinic receptors. The results suggest that the increase in cGMP content induced by halothane does not require intact adrenergic nerve endings and that cellular processes associated with the alpha adrenoceptor system may be involved; the decrease in cAMP content may be due to an inhibition of the beta stimulatory action of catecholamines on adenylate cyclase.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1986

The inotropic effects of amrinone and milrinone on neonatal and young canine cardiac muscle.

Standard techniques were used to study developmental changes in the effects of amrinone and milrinone on contractile properties of isolated canine cardiac papillary and trabecular muscle. In contrast to milrinone, which induced a positive inotropic effect, amrinone had a negative inotropic effect on the neonatal canine muscles studied. For both drugs there was an age-dependent increase in contractility beyond the neonatal period. The negative inotropic effect of amrinone was not related to a change in phosphodiesterase inhibition, although developmental changes in phosphodiesterase inhibition did occur. These results highlight the differences in the mechanism of action of two similar molecules. They also suggest that use of amrinone as an inotropic agent in the early neonatal period should be viewed with caution.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Developmental changes in adenylate cyclase activity in canine myocardium.

Basal and epinephrine-induced adenylate cyclase activity in homogenates of dog myocardium increased significantly from birth to adulthood, without further change with advancing age. The stimulatory effect of epinephrine (i.e. the net increase over basal activity), however, increased (p less than 0.05) during the first week after birth only and then remained constant. While fluoride-stimulated activity increased, 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p]-stimulated activity declined gradually during development (p less than 0.05). In the presence of Gpp(NH)p and epinephrine at concentrations producing a maximal effect, the enzyme activities in all dogs, except in the 1-day-old, were not significantly different and were comparable to that of fluoride-stimulated activity in adult dogs. The results suggest that age-related alterations in the characteristics of the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein may account, at least in part, for the changes in adenylate cyclase activity occurring during development.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1984

Deuterated halothane--anesthetic potency, anticonvulsant activity, and effect on cerebellar cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

The effect of substituting deuterium for hydrogen in the halothane molecule on anesthetic potency, motor activity, and cerebellar cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) content was studied in mice. The concentration of halothane required to abolish the righting reflex in 50% of the mice (ED50RR) was chosen as index of anesthetic potency; cerebellar control of motor activity was evaluated by the incidence of isoniazid-induced convulsions. The ED50RR for deuterated (D)-halothane was similar to that of halothane (0.87 +/- 0.04 and 0.88 +/- 0.03 vol%, respectively). Both D-halothane and halothane (0.15-0.90 vol%) protected the mice against isoniazid-induced convulsions and decreased cerebellar cGMP content in a dose-dependent manner. D-halothane and halothane were equipotent on both parameters. Thus deuteration did not alter the anesthetic potency, the anticonvulsant activity, or the effect on cerebellar cGMP content of the anesthetic. Furthermore, the reactivity of the C-H bond is probably not critical for these actions of halothane.

Animals↗