PATHOGENESIS OF SUXAMETHONIUM-INDUCED MUSCLE DAMAGE IN THE BIVENTER CERVICIS MUSCLE IN THE CHICK

Muscle damage induced by suxamethonium, and the influence ofhalothane on it, has been examined by measuring the efflux ofcreatine kinase (CK) in the biventer cervicis muscle of thechick. Whereas halothane and suxamethonium alone did not increasethe enzyme efflux significantly, the combination of the twowas associated with significant increase in the concentrationof CK in the bathing medium by 59–157%. The increase inCK was prevented by adding chlorpromazine 100 µmol litre^–1to the medium, suggesting the involvement of phospholipasesin the pathogenesis of suxamethonium-induced muscle damage.