EFFECTS OF HALOTHANE ANESTHESIA ON EXTRACELLULAR LEVELS OF DOPAMINE, DIHYDROXYPHENYLACETIC ACID, HOMOVANILLIC-ACID AND 5-HYDROXYINDOLACETIC ACID IN RAT STRIATUM - A MICRODIALYSIS STUDY

The effects of halothane anaesthesia on striatal extracellular levels of dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5HIAA) were investigated in microdialysis experiments. Induction of anaesthesia was accompanied by a rapid increase in dopamine levels and a slower increase in DOPAC and HVA. 5HIAA was not affected. The reduction of dopamine levels induced by apomorphine 0.05 mg/kg appeared with a shorter latency in conscious rats than in anaesthetised rats but the maximum decrease was unaffected by anaesthesia. The decreases in dopamine and DOPAC induced by α-methyl-p-tyrosine 50 mg/kg were affected in opposite directions by halothane: the dopamine reduction was more pronounced while the DOPAC reduction was less pronounced in anaesthetized than in conscious animals. In no case was a qualitative shift in the response observed. It is concluded that halothane may influence the levels of dopamine as well as the response to dopaminergic drugs. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.