Halothane and sevoflurane exert different degrees of inhibition on carotid body glomus cell intracellular Ca2+ response to hypoxia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain if effects of halothane and sevoflurane (0.18-1.45 MAC) on the magnitude of the rise in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i with ̃90s hypoxia (measured using indo-1 dye) in rat pup carotid body type I glomus cells. paralleled their known effects on the human hypoxic ventilatory response, where halothane is more depressive. We also assessed these agents' effect on [Ca2+]i response to 100 mM K+. Halothane depressed the [Ca2+]i transient in hypoxia more than sevoflurane (p = 0.036). Both agents also depressed the [Ca 2+]i response to - halothane more than sevoflurane (p = 0.004). These actions reflect their known influence on human hypoxic ventilatory response, consistent with the notion that the cellular process underlies the whole-body effect. The responses to K+, which depolarises the cell membrane, indicates that in addition to a putative effect on K+ channels, voltage-activated Ca2+ channels may also be involved in the anaesthetic effect. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.