Halothane Inhibits the Microbicidal Oxidative Activity of Pulmonary Alveolar Macrophages

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Abstract
The effect of clinical concentrations of halothane on the microbicidal oxidative activity of rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) was investigated. PAM oxidative activity [generation of the microbicidal oxidative intermediates H2O2, hydroxyl radicals (OH) and O2-] was assessed using luminol and lucigenin chemiluminescence (CL). Whereas luminol CL is an indicator of oxidative activity due to H2O2 OH or O2-, lucigenin CL provides and ultrasensitive measurement of O2- generation. The use of both chemolumingenic probes thus enabled a detailed analysis of PAM oxidative function. Exposure of PAM to 3, 2 and 1% halothane vaporized in air significantly inhibited luminol (23-46%) and lucigenin (30-51%) CL responses (P < 0.01). Halothane-treated PAM exposed to air recovered to the extent that their luminol CL responses were significantly greater than control (no halothane) experiments. Lucigenin reaction mixtures given halothane then air showed less inhibition than PAM treated with halothane only. Evidently, the generation of O2- and, to a lesser extent, other oxidative metabolites is decreased following halothane exposure; this inhibition is reversible. cells senitive to GTG.