Halothane decreases albumin and transferrin synthesis: studies in the isolated, perfused rat liver and in the intact rat

Isolated perfused rat livers exposed to 1.5% halothane (equivalent to 1.35 MAC) in O2/CO2 or to O2/CO2 alone produced urea, as well as albumin and transferrin (both measured by immunodiffusion), at constant rates during a 4.25-h perfusion. Urea production did not differ in the two treatment groups, but halothane depressed albumin and transferrin synthesis 43% and 45%, respectively. Intact rats were also exposed to halothane, after which albumin synthesis was measured by the (14C)carbonate technique. The minimum halothane concentration required to insure sufficient relaxation for ventilation was selected and ranged from 1.0 to 1.5%. Measurements were made in control rats not exposed to halothane (group I) and in halothane exposed rats immediately after 1 h of anesthesia (group II), 24 h after the start of 1 h of anesthesia (group III), and immediately after 1/2 h of anesthesia preceded by a 1-h exposure 24 h earlier (group IV). Single exposures to halothane (groups II and III) resulted in a decrease in albumin synthesis immediately or 24 h later that did not differ significantly from controls (group I). However, halothane given twice to rats at 24-h intervals (group IV) reduced their mean albumin synthesis rate to half that of controls. The early onset and constancy of halothane depression of export protein synthesis by isolated, perfused livers may reflect a response to halothane itself, rather than an effect resulting from the accumulation of halothane metabolites. Similarly, reduction of albumin synthesis in intact rats immediately after a second halothane exposure may indicate a response to halothane, rather than to halothane metabolites.