The effect of thyroid dysfunction on the metabolism of halothane (100 ppm), enflurane (100 ppm) and methoxyflurane (300 ppm) was investigated during application by inhalation. In male rats the elimination half-lives from the atmosphere of the exposure system amounted to 0.76h for halothane, 6.84h for enflurane and 0.64h for methoxyflurane. Hyperthyroidism due to three daily injections of 0.1 mg/kg triiodothyronine i.p. significantly shortened the half-lives of all three inhalation anesthetics. Hypothyroidism due to operative removal of the thyroid gland affected the metabolism of halothane only as evidenced by a prolongation of the elimination half-life while enflurane and methoxyflurane half-lives remained unchanged. The observed differences in metabolic rates are explained by different metabolic pathways of the three compounds. They may be important for the manifestation of toxic effects.

Animals↗

PubMed1981

Effects of liver injury and cholestasis on microsomal enzyme activities and metabolism of halothane, enflurane and methoxyflurane in vivo in rats.

1. Cholestasis (bile-duct ligation 24 h before) had no effect on rat liver microsomal protein content, cytochrome P-450 or cytochrome c reductase activity, but depressed aniline hydroxylase activity and aminopyrine demethylase less so. Pretreatment with CCl4 (24 h before) decreased rat liver cytochrome P-450, aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine demethylase. 2. Halothane, enflurane and methoxyflurane are metabolized via different pathways, resulting in different metabolic elimination rates in our exposure system (methoxyflurane greater than halothane greater than enflurane). Elimination half-lives of the three compounds from the atmosphere of the exposure system were three times longer in CCl4-injured rats; cholestasis had a weaker effect (30-50% increase). 3. Dehalogenation of enflurane, which is the preferred pathway, is affected to the same extent as the cytochrome P-450-dependent hydroxylation of halothane and the O-dealkylation of methoxyflurane.

Anesthetics↗

PubMed1981

[Inhibition and acceleration of the metabolism of enflurane and methoxyflurane in rats (author's transl)].

Rats exposed to enflurane (100 ppm) or methoxyflurane (300 ppm) in a closed all glass-system eliminated these anesthetics from the atmosphere of the system with a half-life of 6.84 h for enflurane and 0.64 h for methoxyflurane. 24 h-fasting had no influence on these elimination half-lives. An oral load of ethanol (4.8 g/kg p.o.) only prolonged the half-life for methoxyflurane. Pretreatment with diethyl maleate (1 ml/kg i.p.), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO, 1 g/kg i.p.) or dithiocarb (100 mg/kg i.p.) prolonged the elimination half-life of both enflurane and methoxyflurane. An accelerated metabolic elimination was only observed in DDT-pretreated rats exposed to enflurane; other inducers of the microsomal mixed-function oxidase system like phenobarbital or rifampicine had no significant influence on the in vivo metabolism of both enflurane or methoxyflurane.

Animals↗