Skip to main content

Volatile anesthetics constrict pulmonary artery in rabbit lung perfusion model

Journal of Anesthesia volume 19, pages 343–346 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Volatile anesthetics are generally considered to possess a vasodilator action. Some of their actions on pulmonary vessels, however, are not clearly understood. We examined the effects of various volatile anesthetics on pulmonary vessels using an in situ rabbit isolated-lung perfusion model. We prepared a rabbit constant-flow lung-perfusion model by sending blood to the pulmonary artery and removing blood from the left atrium, and observed the changes in pulmonary arterial perfusion pressure caused by inhalation of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) volatile anesthetics: halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane, in random order. These volatile anesthetics increased pulmonary arterial perfusion pressure in a dose-dependent manner and caused the pulmonary arteries to constrict. In particular, halothane at all concentrations induced significantly greater pulmonary vasoconstriction than the other volatile anesthetics. Therefore, it is suggested that volatile inhalation anesthetics induce the pulmonary arteries to constrict, and halothane exhibits the most potent pulmonary vasoconstrictor effect among the volatile anesthetics tested.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. DM Fehr DR Larach KA Zangari HG Schuler (1996) ArticleTitleHalothane constricts bovine pulmonary arteries by release of intracellular calcium J Pharmacol Exp Ther 277 706–713 Occurrence Handle8627549

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. JC Young I Triner Y Vulliemoz M Verosky SH Ngai (1973) ArticleTitleEffect of halothane on the cyclic 3S616025S61602-adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) system in rat uterine muscle Anesthesiology 38 244–250 Occurrence Handle4144581

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. DH Sprague JC Young SH Nagai (1974) ArticleTitleEffect of isoflurane and halothane on contractility and cyclic 3S616025S61602-adenosine monophosphate system in the rat aorta Anesthesiology 40 162–167 Occurrence Handle4360050

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. RJ Domenech P Macho J Valdes M Penna (1977) ArticleTitleCoronary vascular resistance during halothane anesthesia Anesthesiology 46 236–240 Occurrence Handle842880

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. HJ Priebe (1990) ArticleTitleDifferential effect of isoflurane on regional right and left ventricular performances, and on coronary, systemic, and pulmonary hemodynamics in the dog Anesthesiology 66 262–272

    Google Scholar 

  6. Y Hatano K Nakamura T Yakushiji M Nishiwada K Mori (1990) ArticleTitleComparison of the direct effects of halothane and isoflurane on large and small coronary arteries isolated from dogs Anesthesiology 73 513–517 Occurrence Handle2118317

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. C Marshall L Lindgren BE Marshall (1984) ArticleTitleEffect of halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in rat lungs in vitro Anesthesiology 60 304–308 Occurrence Handle6703386

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Y Ishibe X Gui H Uno Y Shiokawa T Umeda K Suekane (1993) ArticleTitleEffect of sevoflurane on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in the perfused rabbit lung Anesthesiology 79 1348–1353 Occurrence Handle8267210

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. JY Su LJ Tang (1998) ArticleTitleEffects of halothane on the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores and contractile proteins in rabbit pulmonary arteries Anesthesiology 88 1096–1106 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00000542-199804000-00031 Occurrence Handle9579520

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. JC Drummond (1985) ArticleTitleMAC for halothane, enflurane and isoflurane in the New Zealand white rabbit and a test for the validity of MAC determinations Anesthesiology 62 336–338 Occurrence Handle3919617

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. MS Scheller LJ Saidman BL Patridge (1988) ArticleTitleMAC of sevoflurane in humans and the New Zealand white rabbit Can J Anaesth 35–2 153–156

    Google Scholar 

  12. K Futagawa (1999) ArticleTitleInhibitory effect of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in rabbit lungs in situ: involvement of calcium channel (in Japanese). Kinki Dai Ishi Med J Kinki Univ 24 15–23

    Google Scholar 

  13. M Yamakage H Tsuchida A Namiki (1993) ArticleTitleMechanisms of action of volatile anesthetics on smooth muscle (in Japanese with English abstract). Masui Jpn J Anesthesiol 42 1578–1586

    Google Scholar 

  14. JJ Lunn DK Rorie (1984) ArticleTitleHalothane-induced changes in the release and disposition of norepinephrine at adrenergic nerve endings in dog saphenous vein Anesthesiology 61 377–384 Occurrence Handle6486500

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. T Akata M Nakashima K Izumi (2001) ArticleTitleComparison of volatile anesthetic actions on intracellular calcium stores of vascular smooth muscle: investigation in isolated systemic resistance arteries Anesthesiology 94 840–850 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00000542-200105000-00023 Occurrence Handle11388536

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. M Kakuyama Y Hatano K Nakamura H Toda K Terasako M Nishiwada K Mori (1994) ArticleTitleHalothane and enflurane constrict canine mesenteric arteries by releasing Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stores Anesthesiology 80 1120–1127 Occurrence Handle8017650

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. N Buljubasic NJ Rusch J Marijic JP Kampine ZJ Bosnjak (1992) ArticleTitleEffects of halothane and isoflurane on calcium and potassium channel currents in canine coronary arterial cells Anesthesiology 76 990–998 Occurrence Handle1318010

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. R Liu Y Ishibe N Okazaki M Ueda J Hirosawa (2003) ArticleTitleVolatile anesthetics regulate pulmonary vascular tension through different potassium channel subtypes in isolated rabbit lungs Can J Anaesth 50 301–304 Occurrence Handle12620956

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Kinki University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, Osaka-Sayama, 589-8511, Japan

    Mitsuhiro Takemura, Yasuhiro Shiokawa, Shinji Okamoto, Hiroshi Uno & Yoshihisa Koga

  2. Nara Hospital, Kinki University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, Ikoma, Japan

    Koichi Futagawa

Authors
  1. Mitsuhiro Takemura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yasuhiro Shiokawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shinji Okamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hiroshi Uno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Koichi Futagawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yoshihisa Koga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

We have presented a summary of this study at the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists' 49th Annual Meeting (Fukuoka)

About this article

Cite this article

Takemura, M., Shiokawa, Y., Okamoto, S. et al. Volatile anesthetics constrict pulmonary artery in rabbit lung perfusion model. J Anesth 19, 343–346 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-005-0343-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-005-0343-z

Key words

  • Volatile inhalation anesthetic
  • Pulmonary vasoconstriction
  • Pulmonary perfusion model
  • In situ rabbit model