DIFFERENTIAL-EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUS ANESTHETIC AGENTS ON CELL-MEDIATED-IMMUNITY IN THE RHESUS-MONKEY

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (2) , 457-466
Abstract
Considerable evidence has accumulated to implicate general anaesthetic agents as a cause of post-surgical immune depression. The immunosuppressive effects of 3 in vivo administered anaesthetic agents on cellular immune function were evaluated in sub-human primates which did not undergo surgery. Normal rhesus monkeys received a minimal anaesthetic dose of ketamine HCl, meperidine HCl or sodium pentobarbital. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assayed for mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferative responses and cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CC), including antibody-dependent CC, spontaneous CC and alloimmune CC. In vivo administration of the 3 agents caused significant reduction in lymphocyte functional capabilities. Within 30 min after administration of ketamine HCl or sodium pentobarbital, cytotoxic effector function was significantly depressed with variable recovery occurring at 48 h, cytolytic effector function was not impaired after meperidine HCl or in untreated controls. Ketamine HCl selectively suppressed effector function; mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferative responses were not suppressed. Monkeys given meperidine HCl showed stable effector function and depressed lymphocyte proliferative function. Effects from sodium pentobarbital were non-selective, with reduced cytotoxic and proliferative lymphocyte functions. Thus, i.v. anaesthetic agents are immunosuppressive in primates and exhibit disparate effects on afferent and efferent expressions of cellular immunity.