EFFECTS OF HALOTHANE ANESTHESIA ON ANTIBODY-DEPENDENT CELLULAR CYTOTOXICITY IN RATS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (5) , 609-615
Abstract
Lymphocytes from rats killed while anesthetized with 1.5% halothane showed a significantly reduced capacity to induce lysis of antibody-coated target cells [human liver Chang cells] compared with those from untreated rats. This effect was short-lived, being no longer apparent in lymphoid cells taken from rats 2 h after their recovery from such anesthesia. Surgical procedures were not effective in extending the duration of reduced ADCC [antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity] activity. The post-operative depression of this in vitro assay of immunocompetence apparently results from the influence of the anesthetic agent per se or its metabolites, with surgical trauma having little importance.