HALOTHANE AND ISOFLURANE ENHANCE BASAL AND CARBACHOL-STIMULATED INOSITOL(1,4,5)TRIPHOSPHATE FORMATION IN SH-SY5Y HUMAN NEUROBLASTOMA-CELLS

The cellular mechanisms underlying the clinical effects of volatile anaesthetics remain unknown, although the plasma membrane and its associated proteins are likely targets. One such protein is the enzyme phospholipase C (PLC), which catalyses the formation of the second messenger inositol(1,4,5)triphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3]. Using SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells we have demonstrated that halothane (0,50, 0.75 and 1.00%) enhances basal Ins(1,4,5)P3 mass formation approximately 1.8-fold. Halothane also caused a dose-dependent enhancement of carbachol-stimulated biphasic Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation at both the peak (half-maximal stimulation, EC50) = 0.76%) and plateau (EC50 = 0.74%) phases. At 1%, halothane did not alter the affinity for carbachol at either the peak (IC50: air = 9.4 +/- 1.5, halothane = 12.7 +/- 1.0 muM) or plateau (EC50: air = 11.7 +/- 1.2, halothane = 11.6 +/- 1.0 muM) phase, but did increase the maximum Ins(1,4,5)P3 response at both phases (air vs halothane: peak, 79.9 +/- 0.5 vs 124.8 +/- 2.5; plateau, 33.2 +/- 0.5 vs 47.9 +/- 0.6 pmol/mg protein). Isoflurane (2%) also enhanced basal and carbachol-stimulated Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation 2-fold and 1.5-fold. respectively. In summary, clinically relevant doses of the volatile anaesthetics halothane and isoflurane enhance basal and carbachol-stimulated Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation. Thus, activation of PLC, and subsequent potential Ins(1,4,5)P3-mediated rises in intracellular calcium, could play a part in the cellular mechanisms of volatile agent-induced anaesthesia.