EFFECTS OF HALOTHANE ETHER AND CHLOROFORM ON ISOLATED PERFUSED BOVINE LIVER - A COMPARATIVE STUDY

A comparative study of halothane with one known hepatotoxic agent, chloroform, and one agent for which hepatotoxicity has not been noted, ether, has been performed in the isolated, perfused calf liver. Both chloroform and ether affected carbohydrate metabolism in a manner consistent with inhibition of oxidative energy metabolism. Halothane had no effect. Both halothane and chloroform produced proliferative lesions in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum of the hepatocyte, resembling those seen with acute carbon tetrachloride toxicity and with the adaptive response to chronic phenobarbital administration. Halothane also uncoupled oxidative N-demethylation in the hepatic microsomal fraction, a result similar to those previously reported with carbon tetrachloride. Neither ether nor simple control perfusion affected these detoxification mechanisms. The implications of these findings relative to the reported incidence of hepatotoxicity after halothane administration to patients are discussed. © 1968.