EFFECT OF HALOTHANE, ENFLURANE AND ISOFLURANE ON CAROTID BODY CHEMORECEPTOR ACTIVITY IN THE RABBIT AND THE CAT

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Abstract
The response of the carotid body chemoreceptors to administration of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane was tested in the rabbit and cat. In the steady-state all three volatile anaesthetics, in doses up to 1%, were mildly chemodepressant. The oxygen response curves were shifted down-wards, but hypoxic stimuli below 5.3 kPa over-came this chemodepression. Two-point carbon dioxide response curves were also shifted downwards, but with no change in slope. Possible mechanisms involved in the chemoreceptor response to transient and steady-state anaesthetic administration are discussed.