Effects of Halothane on Glucose-stimulated Insulin Secretion and Glucose Oxidation in Isolated Rat Pancreatic Islets

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Abstract
Halothane inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Whether the mechanism of inhibition involves a reduction in glucose metabolism was studied. The effects of halothane on glucose (16.7 mM)-stimulated insulin secretion and glucose oxidation were studied in isolated rat pancreatic islets. Halothane, 0.11 mM (0.5 MAC [minimum anesthetic concentration]), 0.22 mM (1.0 MAC) and 0.33 mM (1.5 MAC) inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin release in a dose-related manner by 5.2% (NS [not significant]), 21.0% (P < 0.05) and 32.6% (P < 0.01), respectively. At the 0.33 mM (1.5 MAC) concentration, halothane did not significantly inhibit the oxidation of 6-14C-glucose to 14CO2, but higher concentrations of halothane caused significant inhibition. Halothane''s inhibitory effect on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion apparently is not due to interference with glucose oxidation.