Identification of the central imidazoline receptor subtype involved in modulation of halothane-epinephrine arrhythmias in rats

We previously reported that imidazoline receptors in the central nervous system are involved in modulation of halothane-epinephrine arrhythmias. These receptors have been subclassified as I1 and I2 subtypes, but it is not known which receptor subtype is involved in halothane-epinephrine-induced arrhythmias. We designed the present study to clarify the involvement of central imidazoline receptor subtype in the modulation of halothane-epinephrine-induced arrhythmias. Rats were anesthetized with halothane and monitored continuously for systemic arterial blood pressure and premature ventricular contractions. The arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine was defined as the smallest dose that produces three or more premature ventricular contractions within a 15-s period. Intracisternal moxonidine dose-dependently inhibited the epinephrine-induced arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia. Intracisternal efaroxan, a selective I1 antagonist with little affinity for I2 subtype, but not rauwolscine, an alpha2 antagonist without affinity for imidazoline receptors, blocked the antiarrhythmic effect of moxonidine. Intracisternal BU 224 and 2-BFI, selective I2 ligands, also inhibited the epinephrine-induced arrhythmias dose-dependently; however, these effects were abolished by efaroxan. We conclude that central I1, but not I2, receptors play an important role in inhibition of halothane-epinephrine arrhythmia.     

Alpha-adrenergic responsiveness correlates with epinephrine dose for arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia in dogs

The dose of epinephrine required to elicit ventricular arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia may depend on end-organ sensitivity. We determined whether the arrhythmogenic dose for epinephrine (ADE) could be correlated with either alpha- or beta-adrenergic responsiveness. After ADE was determined in 26 dogs anesthetized with 1.2 MAC halothane, an in vivo assessment of adrenergic responsiveness was made. The alpha-adrenergic responsiveness was defined as the dose of phenylephrine required to increase mean arterial pressure by 75% (alpha 75), while the dose of isoproterenol causing a 75% increase in heart rate was a measure of beta-adrenergic responsiveness (beta 75). The correlation coefficients for alpha 75 and beta 75 vs ADE then were determined by multiple linear regression analysis. There was a highly significant correlation with the alpha 75 (F = 9.06; P less than 0.01), while no relationship existed with beta 75 (F = 0.52; P greater than 0.05). Thus the alpha-adrenergic responsiveness in individual patients may be used to predict the threshold for epinephrine-induced arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia.     

Enhancement by propofol of epinephrine-induced arrhythmias in dogs.

Although propofol is a widely used intravenous anesthetic, its effect on epinephrine-induced arrhythmias remains unknown. This study examined the possible interaction between propofol and epinephrine that might affect the induction of ventricular arrhythmias in dogs. The arrhythmogenic threshold of epinephrine was determined during anesthesia with halothane alone, propofol alone, etomidate alone, or etomidate plus varying doses of propofol. The arrhythmogenic dose and the corresponding plasma concentration of epinephrine during propofol anesthesia (blood propofol concentration 18.0 +/- 0.98 micrograms/ml) were 2.52 +/- 0.43 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 and 23.6 +/- 8.5 ng/ml, respectively. During halothane anesthesia (end-tidal 1.3 MAC), they were 2.66 +/- 0.21 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 and 35.7 +/- 1.9 ng/ml, respectively. During etomidate anesthesia, they were 9.67 +/- 1.06 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 and 205 +/- 27.5 ng/ml, respectively. The dose-effect relationship for propofol was examined during etomidate plus propofol anesthesia. Propofol reduced the arrhythmogenic plasma concentration of epinephrine in a concentration-dependent manner: at blood propofol concentrations of 2.33 +/- 0.46, 5.46 +/- 0.71, and 11.2 +/- 0.81 micrograms/ml, the corresponding plasma epinephrine concentrations were 182.6 +/- 52.5, 89.0 +/- 28.8, and 26.6 +/- 6.9 ng/ml, respectively. These results suggest that propofol enhances epinephrine-induced arrhythmias in a dose-dependent manner in dogs.     

Magnesium deficiency alters the threshold for epinephrine-induced arrhythmias during halothane or sevoflurane anesthesia in the rat

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of chronic magnesium (Mg2+) deficiency on the relative arrhythmogenicity of halothane and sevoflurane in the rat. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, nonblinded study. SETTING: University laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48). INTERVENTIONS: Rats were maintained on a Mg2+-deficient or control diet for 14 days, at which time they were anesthetized with halothane or sevoflurane, a tracheostomy was performed, and the lungs were ventilated to maintain normocapnia. Catheters were inserted into a femoral vein and carotid artery. Lead II of the electrocardiogram was monitored to determine the threshold for epinephrine-induced arrhythmias. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Chronic Mg2+ deficiency significantly decreased the dose of epinephrine required for arrhythmias (ADE). The reduction in the ADE was approximately one third during halothane anesthesia (p < 0.05) and one fifth during sevoflurane anesthesia (p < 0.001). Infusion of magnesium sulphate completely reversed the reduction in ADE. In normomagnesemic rats, the halothane ADE was significantly less than the sevoflurane ADE (mean difference = 6.0 microg/kg, 95% confidence interval of the difference = 3.6 to 8.4 microg/kg) (p < 0.005). Mg2+ deficiency significantly attenuated the difference between the halothane ADE and the sevoflurane ADE (mean difference in the Mg2+-deficient group = 0.6 microg/kg, 95% confidence interval of the difference = -0.2 to 1.5 microg/kg). CONCLUSION: Chronic Mg2+ deficiency decreased the threshold for epinephrine-induced arrhythmias and attenuated differences between the arrhythmogenic potential of halothane and sevoflurane, suggesting that arrhythmias are as likely to develop with sevoflurane as with halothane in the presence of coexisting magnesium deficiency and elevated catecholamines.     

Landiolol decreases a dysrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine in dogs during halothane anesthesia

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of landiolol (ONO-1101), a new ultra-short acting and highly selective beta blocker, on epinephrine-induced ventricular arrhythmias in halothane-anesthetized dogs. METHODS: We administered five different doses (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 10 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) landiolol and determined the dysrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine (DDE), defined as the smallest dose producing four or more PVCs within 15 sec, at each dose of landiolol and after cessation of infusion. RESULTS: The control value of DDE during 1.3 MAC halothane anesthesia was 1.26 +/- 0.44 (mean +/- SD) microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) and the corresponding plasma concentration of epinephrine (PCE) was 12.2 +/- 8.3 ng x ml(-1). Concomitant administration of 10 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) landiolol increased DDE and corresponding PCE (P < 0.05). At 30 min after cessation of landiolol infusion, DDE and corresponding PCE returned to the control values. CONCLUSIONS: Landiolol, at a dose of 10 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1), has an antiarrhythmic effect on epinephrine-induced ventricular arrhythmias in dogs during anesthesia with halothane.     

Identification of receptor mechanism mediating epinephrine-induced arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia in the dog

The adrenergic receptor mechanism by which halothane sensitizes the myocardium to the ventricular arrhythmogenic properties of catecholamines is unknown. The new generation of selective adrenergic receptor antagonists have been used to determine which receptor blockade causes the greater increase in the dose of epinephrine needed to achieve a threshold for ventricular arrhythmias. Dogs anesthetized with 1.2 MAC halothane had an arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine (ADE) of 2.2 micrograms X kg X min-1 that significantly increased (P less than 0.01) to 27 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1 after alpha 1 blockade with prazosin. beta 1 blockade with metoprolol also significantly increased the ADE to 12 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1 (P less than 0.05) but was less than the effect noted after prazosin treatment (P less than 0.05). The dramatic increase in the threshold for arrhythmias noted after prazosin could not be ascribed solely to its hemodynamic properties because treatment with sodium nitroprusside did not change the ADE (2.7 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1) significantly; yet nitroprusside treatment resulted in a similar drop in mean arterial pressure (59 mmHg) to that of prazosin treatment (51 mmHg) when compared with the control group. Thus postsynaptic myocardial alpha 1 adrenergic receptors mediate most of the sensitization by halothane to the ventricular arrhythmogenic effects of catecholamines, while a lesser contribution is conferred by the beta 1 adrenoceptors. These results have implications for the treatment and identification of patients particularly at risk from halothane-epinephrine interactions.     

Antiarrhythmic effect of diltiazem during halothane anesthesia in dogs and in humans

The antiarrhythmic effects of diltiazem (DL), a slow channel inhibitor, were evaluated in the presence of epinephrine-halothane-induced arrhythmias in dogs, of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) during anesthesia in patients (n = 10), and of tachyarrhythmias with associated atrial fibrillation (AF) during anesthesia in patients (n = 9). The arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine (ADE) during one MAC of halothane in dogs was increased from 1.13 +/- 0.21 to 3.14 +/- 0.89 microgram X kg-1 X min-1 by the administration of 0.3 mg/kg of DL. This suggests that DL significantly increases the threshold for the induction of arrhythmias associated with epinephrine and halothane. In 10 patients, PVCs that appeared spontaneously during halothane anesthesia were eliminated by the intravenous administration of DL (0.1 mg/kg). With an additional nine patients who had had AF preoperatively and suffered tachyarrhythmias during anesthesia, the intraoperative intravenous administration of DL significantly decreased heart rate (to less than 100 beats/min) within 10-15 min. Diltiazem is an effective means for the treatment of PVCs and AF-mediated tachyarrhythmias during anesthesia. Because of the pharmacologic properties of DL (e.g., depressing sinus and atrioventricular (AV) node function), DL should be used with caution in patients with a sick sinus syndrome or an AV block, or in the presence of beta-adrenergic antagonists.     

Myocardial sensitization by thiopental to arrhythmogenic action of epinephrine in dogs

This study examined the interaction between thiopental and epinephrine in inducing ventricular arrhythmias in dogs. The arrhythmogenic threshold of epinephrine was determined during anesthesia with either halothane alone, thiopental alone, etomidate plus different doses of thiopental, or halothane plus different doses of thiopental. The arrhythmogenic dose and the corresponding plasma concentration of epinephrine during thiopental anesthesia (plasma thiopental concentration: 46-57 micrograms/ml) were 0.77 +/- 0.04 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 and 10.7 +/- 1.5 ng/ml, respectively. During halothane anesthesia (end-tidal: 1.3 MAC) they were 2.59 +/- 0.49 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 and 45.3 +/- 9.2 ng/ml, respectively. The dose-effect relationship for the thiopental action was examined during etomidate plus thiopental and halothane plus thiopental anesthesia. The arrhythmogenic plasma concentration of epinephrine was inversely proportional to the plasma thiopental concentration during both anesthetics. During etomidate plus thiopental anesthesia, at plasma thiopental concentrations of 0, 11.2 +/- 0.83, 20.1 +/- 1.34, and 33.2 +/- 1.95 micrograms/ml, the corresponding epinephrine concentrations were 201.3 +/- 34.3, 142 +/- 19.5, 69.1 +/- 21.2, and 22.7 +/- 4.5 ng/ml. During halothane plus thiopental anesthesia, at plasma thiopental concentrations of 0, 10 +/- 0.86, 18.3 +/- 0.87, and 31.8 +/- 1.05 micrograms/ml, the corresponding epinephrine concentrations were 45.3 +/- 9.2, 34.6 +/- 8.9, 16.2 +/- 1.74, and 15.1 +/- 1.32 micrograms/ml, respectively. These results suggest that thiopental sensitizes the heart to epinephrine in a dose-dependent manner. This sensitizing action of thiopental would in part explain the thiopental potentiation of hydrocarbon anesthetic-epinephrine arrhythmias.     

Doses of epinephrine causing arrhythmia during enflurane, methoxyflurane and halothane anaesthesia in dogs.

The arrhythmogenic dosage of epinephrine, administered by constant intravenous infusion, was measured in five dogs during enflurane, methoxyflurane and halothane anaesthesia. While premature ventricular contractions were observed in only one of five dogs with enflurane and methoxyflurane, epinephrine-induced arrhythmias were seen in all animals during halothane anaesthesia. Epinephrine dosage and the resultant increase in mean arterial blood pressure at which arrhythmias occurred during halothane anaesthesia were significantly less (p less than 0.05) than with the other anaesthetics. These observations indicate that enflurane and methoxyflurane, as compared to halothane, possess relatively less arrhythmogenic potential as sensitizing agents in the presence of increased circulating catecholamines.     

Epinephrine-induced arrhythmias: effect of exogenous prostaglandins and prostaglandin synthesis inhibition during halothane-O2 anesthesia in the dog

Prostaglandins (PG) modify sympathetic and parasympathetic neurotransmission and have antiarrhythmic properties. Inhibitors of PG synthesis sensitize the heart to certain experimentally induced arrhythmias. This study examined the arrhythmogenic dose (AD) of epinephrine in dogs during halothane-O2 anesthesia as modified by the infusion of PG and by treatment with an inhibitor of PG synthesis. Dogs were anesthetized with 1.25 MAC halothane. The AD of epinephrine was established by a series of 3-minute epinephrine infusions at 10-minute intervals. The AD of epinephrine was then redetermined during infusions of PG(PGE1--1 microgram/kg/min and PGF2 alpha--1 microgram/kg/min), after indomethacin, 3 mg/kg, and after aminophylline, 10 mg/kg. The AD remained unchanged from control during both of the PG infusions and following indomethacin. Only following aminophylline did the AD decrease significantly. Our study suggests that pretreatment of surgical patients with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs which inhibit PG synthesis does not increase the likelihood of ventricular arrhythmias during halothane-O2 anesthesia.     

Esmolol prevents and suppresses arrhythmias during halothane anaesthesia in dogs

The antiarrhythmic effect of esmolol, a selective beta 1 adrenoreceptor blocker, was evaluated in the presence of epinephrine induced arrhythmias in dogs (n = 6). The arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine (ADE) during 1.2 MAC halothane in dogs was increased from 3.23 +/- 0.25 (mean +/- SD) to 30.90 +/- 3.56 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 (P less than 0.001) by the prior administration of esmolol 0.5 microgram.kg-1 bolus followed by an infusion at the rate of 150 micrograms.kg-1.min-1. Higher esmolol infusion doses of 200 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 further increased ADE to 99.0 +/- 2.92 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 (P less than 0.001). After discontinuation of esmolol and during continued halothane anaesthesia, ventricular tachycardia was induced by increasing the infusion rate of the 100 micrograms.ml-1 solution of epinephrine. In all dogs ventricular tachycardia was restored to sinus rhythm by a bolus dose of esmolol (1 microgram.kg-1). We conclude that esmolol pretreatment increases the ADE during halothane anaesthesia in dogs. Our data suggest that esmolol may be useful as an antiarrhythmic agent in the management of epinephrine-related ventricular arrhythmias during anaesthesia in man.     

Epinephrine-induced premature ventricular contractions and changes in arterial blood pressure and heart rate during I-653, isoflurane, and halothane anesthesia in swine

I653 is a new inhalation anesthetic having especially desirable recovery characteristics because of its very low blood and tissue solubility. Investigations of its cardiovascular and electroencephalographic effects have revealed actions similar to those of isoflurane. However, these studies did not evaluate the potential of I653 to predispose the heart to epinephrine-induced arrhythmias. In this investigation, we studied eight domestic swine to compare the effects of I653 with those of other anesthetics on the cardiac arrhythmogenic actions of intravenously infused epinephrine. I653, isoflurane, and halothane each were given, on separate days, at 0.7-0.8 and at 1.1-1.2 MAC. The rate of infusion of epinephrine needed to produce premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) when the animals were anesthetized with I653 (6.9 +/- 0.7 and 6.6 +/- 0.9 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 at 0.8 and 1.2 MAC) did not differ from that during isoflurane anesthesia (5.7 +/- 1.1 and 6.0 +/- 1.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 at 0.7 and 1.1 MAC), but was greater than that required during halothane anesthesia (1.3 +/- 0.2 and 1.1 +/- 0.3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 at 0.7 and 1.1 MAC). Similar mean arterial blood pressures and heart rates resulted from like infusions of epinephrine during I653 and isoflurane anesthesia. PVCs occurred at lesser infusion rates of epinephrine and at lower mean arterial blood pressures and heart rates with halothane than with I653 or isoflurane. Anesthetic concentration, over the range studied, did not alter the infusion rate of epinephrine required to produce arrhythmias with any anesthetic. The authors conclude that I-653 and isoflurane have similar properties with respect to epinephrine-induced arrhythmias and increases in heart rate and arterial blood pressure.     

Dexmedetomidine produces a hypnotic-anesthetic action in rats via activation of central alpha-2 adrenoceptors

Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective and potent alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, reduces halothane anesthetic requirements by over 90% in rats. The present study examined whether dexmedetomidine produces a hypnotic-anesthetic action in rats. Dexmedetomidine induced a hypnotic-anesthetic state in rats characterized by loss of righting reflex at doses greater than or equal to 0.1 mg/kg. This response was dose-dependent between 0.1 and 3 mg/kg. Alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonists that cross the blood-brain barrier (antipamezole and idazoxan) decreased the hypnotic-anesthetic action of dexmedetomidine in a dose-dependent fashion. In contrast, the alpha-2 antagonist, L-659,066, which does not penetrate into the CNS did not affect dexmedetomidine-induced hypnosis. Antagonists for the other adrenoceptors not only failed to reduce the hypnotic-anesthetic action of dexmedetomidine but in some cases even potentiated this effect. Thus, prazosin, an alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist, significantly enhanced the hypnotic-anesthetic property of dexmedetomidine. Antagonists with beta-2 receptor blocking properties also enhanced dexmedetomidine-induced hypnosis. Selective beta-1 receptor antagonists did not affect the hypnotic action of dexmedetomidine. These results suggest that dexmedetomidine produces a hypnotic-anesthetic action in rats via activation of central alpha-2 adrenoceptors.     

Comparison of the epinephrine-induced arrhythmogenic effect of sevoflurane with isoflurane and halothane

The effect of sevoflurane on cardiac arrhythmias induced by the infusion of epinephrine into dogs was compared with those of isoflurane and halothane. The arrhythmogenic doses of epinephrine determined in this comparative study were expressed by both infusion rates of epinephrine and the corresponding plasma levels obtained by a series of three-minute epinephrine infusions during sevolurane, isoflurane, and halothane anesthesia at 1.25 MAC. The mean values of the arrythmogenic infusion rates of epinephrine and the corresponding plasma levels were 17.3µg/kg/min and 275.7ng/ml for sevoflurane, 6.7µg/kg/min and 149.2ng/ml for isoflurane and 1.9µg/kg/min and 39.1ng/ml for halothane, respectively. These results indicate that the arrythmogenic doses of epinephrine during sevoflurane and isoflurane anesthesia were significantly higher than those during halothane anesthesia.(Imamura S et al.: Comparison of the epinephrine-induced arrhythmogenic effect of sevoflurane with isoflurane and halothane. J Anesth 1: 62–68, 1987)     

Synergistic interaction of alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists on induction arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia in dogs

The authors investigated the role of alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptors on the induction of arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia in the dog. The arrhythmogenic doses (ADs) of various combinations of alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists were determined in dogs (N = 105) during halothane anesthesia. Isoproterenol (ISP) and phenylephrine (PHE) administered separately failed to induce arrhythmias in doses up to 4 micrograms/kg and 200 micrograms/kg, respectively. The interaction between ISP and PHE in inducing arrhythmias showed typical hyperbolic isoboles. At a systolic pressure of 140 mmHg, the AD of ISP in the presence of PHE was significantly lower than that in the presence of angiotensin II (ANG II). At a systolic pressure of 150, 160, 170, or 180 mmHg, there was no significant difference between the AD of ISP in the presence of PHE and that in the presence of ANG II. Increasing heart rate by electrical pacing did not replace ISP in the arrhythmogenic interaction between ISP and PHE. The results indicate that both alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists are important for producing arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia, and that these agonists synergistically interact on the heart by different mechanisms.     

Central alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation functionally antagonizes the hypnotic response to dexmedetomidine, an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist.

Previously, we demonstrated that dexmedetomidine, an alpha 2 agonist, produces a hypnotic-anesthetic response in rats via activation of central alpha 2 adrenoceptors and that this response could be enhanced by the alpha 1 antagonist prazosin. In the current experiment we investigated whether central alpha 1 adrenoceptor stimulation antagonizes the alpha 2 adrenoceptor-mediated hypnotic response. Cirazoline, an alpha 1 adrenoceptor agonist that partitions into the central nervous system, attenuated dexmedetomidine's hypnotic response whether administered systemically (0.3-1 mg.kg-1 intraperitoneally [ip]) or centrally (0.1 mg.kg-1 intracerebroventricularly). Prazosin, an alpha 1 adrenoceptor antagonist that effectively crosses the blood-brain barrier, fully blocked cirazoline's attenuating effect on dexmedetomidine-induced hypnosis, whereas doxazosin, which partitions poorly into the brain, did not block cirazoline's effect. Administration of phenylephrine, 0.3-3 mg.kg-1 ip, an alpha 1 adrenoceptor agonist that does not penetrate into the brain, did not attenuate dexmedetomidine's hypnotic effect. These results indicate that central alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation functionally antagonizes the hypnotic response to an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist. These data underscore the important requirement for alpha 2 adrenoceptor selectivity if these agonists are to be useful in the anesthetic setting.     

Selective beta1 and beta2 adrenoceptor blockade on epinephrine-induced arrhythmias in halothane anaesthetized dogs

Beta 2 as well as beta 1 adrenoceptors have been recognized in the heart of vertebrates. They mediate a positive chronotropic action of catecholamines. We compared the effect of selective beta 1 and beta 2 adrenoceptor antagonists on the genesis of halothane-epinephrine arrhythmias in dogs. The arrhythmogenic dose (AD) of epinephrine was increased in the presence of l-metoprolol, a selective beta 1 antagonist (8.40 +/- 1.13 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1; mean +/- SEM), compared with control value (2.62 +/- 0.56) (P < 0.05). In contrast, ICI-118,551, a selective beta 2 antagonist, did not change the AD (2.36 +/- 0.43). Adding ICI-118,551 to l-metoprolol did not affect the AD of epinephrine in the presence of l-metoprolol alone (6.34 +/- 0.74 vs 8.40 +/- 1.13). These results suggest that selective beta 1 blockade is effective in preventing halothane-epinephrine arrhythmias, but selective beta 2 blockade is not.     

The antiarrhythmic effect of flecainide on halothane-epinephrine induced arrhythmias in dogs

The antiarrhythmic effect of flecainide acetate (FCN), a newly developed class I antiarrhythmic drug, was evaluated on epinephrine (E)-halothane induced arrhythmias in dogs. The arrhythmogenic dose of E (ADE) under 1% of halothane was significantly increased from 0.71 ± 0.08 to 1.08 ± 0.11 and 1.84 ± 0.23µg·kg^–1·min^–1 by the administration of 2 and 4mg·kg^–1 of FCN, respectively. The arrhythmias induced by ADE in the absence of FCN were stopped by 1.78 ± 0.29mg·kg^–1 of FCN in bolus injections. These results suggest that FCN can be used for the treatment of arrhythmias that E contributes to under halothane anesthesia.(Iwatsuki N, Takahashi M, Satoh S et al.: The antiarrhythmic effect of flecainide on halothane-epinephrine induced arrhythmicas in dogs. J Anesth 4: 303–308, 1990)     

Myocardial epinephrine sensitization with subanesthetic concentrations of halothane in dogs

The authors investigated myocardial epinephrine sensitization by subanesthetic concentrations of halothane. The dose-response relationship for the action of halothane was examined with etomidate plus varying subanesthetic concentrations of halothane in dogs. The arrhythmogenic threshold of epinephrine was decreased in a dose-dependent manner at end-tidal concentrations of halothane between 0.1 and 0.3%. At end-tidal halothane is greater than 0.3%, and no further reduction of arrhythmogenic threshold of epinephrine occurred. The plasma concentrations of epinephrine producing four or more premature ventricular contractions in 15 s were 201.3 +/- 34.3, 98.1 +/- 13.9, 60.3 +/- 8.63, 57.9 +/- 12.8, 54.5 +/- 8.61, and 53.9 +/- 4.86 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM), at 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% of halothane at end-tidal concentrations, respectively. The results suggest that in the presence of etomidate, halothane produces myocardial sensitization to epinephrine at subanesthetic concentrations as low as 0.1%. Increasing halothane to 0.3% produces a further reduction in the arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine.     

Effect of dexmedetomidine, a selective and potent alpha 2-agonist, on cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption during halothane anesthesia in dogs

The effect of the alpha 2-agonist dexmedetomidine on the cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the metabolic rate for oxygen was studied by a sagittal sinus outflow technique in dogs during halothane anesthesia. Dexmedetomidine was given in a dose (10 micrograms/kg) reported to reduce the anesthetic requirement of halothane by 90%. During 0.9% halothane anesthesia dexmedetomidine caused a significant reduction in CBF without influencing the metabolic rate for oxygen. Reducing the halothane concentration to 0.1% caused no further change in CBF, but increased the metabolic rate for oxygen 19%. The cerebral vasoconstrictive effect, combined with the 90% reduction in MAC for halothane, indicates that dexmedetomidine might be a useful adjunct to inhalation anesthetics during neurosurgery in situations where an increase in CBF should be avoided.