BACKGROUND:Dexmedetomidine, an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, can prevent the genesis of halothane/epinephrine dysrhythmias through the central nervous system. Because stimulation of alpha 2 adrenoceptors in the central nervous system enhances vagal neural activity and vagal stimulation is known to inhibit digitalis-induced dysrhythmias, dexmedetomidine may exert the antidysrhythmic property through vagal stimulation. To address this hypothesis, the effect of dexmedetomidine in vagotomized dogs was examined and compared with that in intact dogs. In addition, the effect of vagotomy on the antidysrhythmic action of doxazosin, an alpha 1 antagonist, was studied. METHODS:Adult mongrel dogs were anesthetized with halothane (1.3%) and monitored continuously for systemic arterial pressure and premature ventricular contractions. Animals were divided into two groups receiving bilateral vagotomy or sham operation. The dysrhythmia threshold was expressed by the dysrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine, defined as the smallest dose producing four or more premature ventricular contractions within a 15-s period, and plasma concentration of epinephrine at the time when the dysrhythmogenic dose was reached. The threshold was determined in the presence of dexmedetomidine (a selective alpha 2 agonist that crosses the blood-brain barrier) and doxazosin (a selective alpha 1 antagonist that does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier) in the two groups. In addition, the effect of dexmedetomidine in the presence of atropine methylnitrate instead of vagotomy was examined. RESULTS:Vagotomy did not affect the basal vulnerability to halothane/epinephrine dysrhythmias significantly. Although dexmedetomidine dose-dependently prevented the genesis of the dysrhythmias in intact dogs, the beneficial effect of dexmedetomidine was abolished in both the vagotomized and the atropine-treated dogs. On the other hand, vagotomy did not change the antidysrhythmic property of doxazosin. CONCLUSIONS:The vagus nerve plays an important role in the prevention of halothane/epinephrine dysrhythmias by dexmedetomidine in dogs. However, resting vagal tone neither modulates the onset of halothane/epinephrine dysrhythmias nor affects the antidysrhythmic action of doxazosin.

This study was designed to analyze quantitatively the interaction of nicardipine with vecuronium using a constant infusion technique. Forty-seven patients undergoing elective otolaryngeal surgery were anesthetized with isoflurane (1% end-tidal) and nitrous oxide (67%). Patients were randomly assigned to receive one of four doses of nicardipine (0, 1, 2, and 3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1). Vecuronium infusion dose requirement was determined as a constant infusion rate which maintained 90% depression of control twitch tension. Nicardipine significantly decreased the vecuronium requirement in a dose-dependent manner, i.e., the vecuronium doses were 0.70 +/- 0.03, 0.55 +/- 0.04, 0.42 +/- 0.04, and 0.37 +/- 0.05 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 at nicardipine doses of 0, 1, 2, and 3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, respectively. Nicardipine also reduced both the plasma concentration of vecuronium to maintain the 90% depression and the total plasma clearance of vecuronium. The reversal of the vecuronium effect with neostigmine was not influenced by nicardipine. The results indicate that the vecuronium infusion dose requirements are reduced as much as 53% by a clinical dose of nicardipine.

Background: Because the relative efficacy of antiarrhythmic agents on halothane-epinephrine arrhythmias has not been well characterized, this study was undertaken to comparatively evaluate the antiarrhythmic action of Na+-, K+- and Ca2+channel blockers on epinephrine-induced ventricular arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia in rats.Methods: Rats were anesthetized at random with either halothane (1.5%), isoflurane (2.0%), or pentobarbital (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally), and the lungs were mechanically ventilated with oxygen. The rats were studied in three consecutive protocols. Protocol I determined the arrhythmogenic thresholds of epinephrine during the three types of anesthesia in 33 rats. Protocol II determined the arrhythmogenic thresholds of epinephrine during halothane anesthesia in 64 rats receiving saline (control) or one of five antiarrhythmic agents. Protocol III measured the duration of epinephrine-induced arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia in 42 rats receiving saline (control) or one of five antiarrhythmic agents.Results. In protocol I, the arrhythmogenic doses of epinephrine during halothane, isoflurane, or pentobarbital anesthesia were 1.7 +/- 3.2, 11.1 +/- 0.6, and 39.0 +/- 3.9 mug/kg, respectively, and the corresponding plasma concentrations were 4.3 +/- 0.8, 103.7 +/- 9.2, and 246.7 +/- 28.9 ng/ml, respectively. In protocol II, the arrhythmogenic doses were similar in rats receiving saline and in those receiving lidocaine. The arrhythmogenic doses in rats receiving verapamil, flecainide (Na+- and K+- channel blocker), E-4031(K+- channel blocker), or amiodarone(K+- channel blocker with Na+-, Ca2+-, and beta-blocking activity) increased significantly, i.e., 4.2, 4.2, 5.5, and 31.7 times control (P < 0.01). In protocol III, lidocaine had no effect on the duration of arrhythmias. Flecainide, E-4031, and verapamil markedly reduced the duration of arrhythmias induced by epinephrine, 8 mug/kg intravenously (P < 0.01), whereas only amiodarone markedly reduced the duration of arrhythmias induced by epinephrine, 16 mug/kg intravenously (P < 0.01).Conclusions: It was concluded that agents with K+- channel blocking properties were the most effective in preventing halothane-epinephrine arrhythmias in rats.

BACKGROUND:Drugs with a central alpha 2-adrenergic action can increase the threshold for halothane-epinephrine-induced arrhythmias. Recently, imidazoline-preferring receptors were shown to play a significant role in the hypotensive effect of alpha 2-adrenergic agonists containing an imidazole ring in their structure. To address the question of whether the antiarrhythmic property of the alpha 2-adrenergic agonists was caused by activation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors or imidazoline-preferring receptors in the central nervous system, the effect of an imidazoline (atipamezole) and a nonimidazoline (L-659,066 and yohimbine) alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist were examined as etiologic factors in the genesis of halothane-epinephrine-induced arrhythmias in dogs. METHODS:Adult mongrel dogs were anesthetized with halothane (1.3%) and monitored continuously for systemic arterial pressure and for premature ventricular contractions. The arrhythmogenic dose (AD) of epinephrine, defined as the smallest dose producing four or more premature ventricular contractions within a 15-s period, was determined in the presence of atipamezole (an imidazoline compound that acrosses the blood-brain barrier), L-659,066 (a nonimidazoline compound that does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier), and yohimbine (a nonimidazoline compound that passes the blood-brain barrier). These drugs were administered either intravenously or into the cisterna magna to assess the site of action for changes in responsiveness. RESULTS:Intravenous atipamezole decreased the AD of epinephrine in the dose-dependent fashion. However, neither L-659,066 nor yohimbine, administered peripherally, decreased the AD of epinephrine. Central administration of atipamezole also decreased the AD of epinephrine, while L-659,066, even if administered centrally, did not affect the AD of epinephrine in the presence of halothane. CONCLUSIONS:Because the imidazoline ring-containing alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist (atipamezole) potentiated the halothane-epinephrine-induced arrhythmias and the nonimidazole alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist (L-659,066 and yohimbine) did not, it is possible that the imidazoline-preferring, rather than the alpha 2-adrenergic, receptor is responsible for the antiarrhythmic property of alpha 2-adrenergic agonists.

The present study was undertaken in humans to determine the anesthetic efficacy of midazolam in terms of its ability to reduce halothane minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC). Fifty scheduled for simple or radical hysterectomy were allocated randomly to One Of four groups; group A was given no midazolam as a groups B, C, and D were given midazolam intravenously by a bolus of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mg/kg followed by infusion of 1, 2, and 4 μg·kg−1·min−1, respectively. Halothane MAC was 0.78%, 0.47%, 0.38%, and 0.23% at mean serum midazdam concentrations of 0,134,250, and 539 ng/mL in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. The interaction between halothane and midazolam in the anesthetic efficacy conformed to an exponential fit. The results indicate that midazolam produces marked reduction of halothane MAC in humans at Serum concentrations lower than that required to cause sleep. Lastly, midazolam's Dotentiation of halothane has a saturated nature.

This study was carried out to determine the relative potencies of local anaesthetics to inhibit the cholinergic synaptic transmission using cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, and to clarify if the inhibitory action would correlate with biophysical and pharmacological properties. Local anaesthetics (bupivacaine, etidocaine, tetracaine, lignocaine and procaine; 0-02-2 mm) inhibited carbachol-induced catecholamine release from the cells in a concentration-dependent manner. This inhibition was completely reversible. IC50 (concentration of 50% inhibition) of each anaesthetic showed no correlation with the lipid solubility. The local anaesthetics showed greater inhibitory potency at a higher extracellular pH. The results suggest that clinically relevant concentrations of local anaesthetics inhibit the stimulus-secretion coupling in the chromaffin cells. The un-ionized base form plays a major role, and the inhibitory potency does not depend on the lipid solubility of the anaesthetics.

The contribution of the lung to the clearance of exogenous dopamine after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was analyzed quantitatively in humans and compared with the contribution of the lung before CPB. The pulmonary and arterial plasma concentration of dopamine and the pulmonary plasma flow were measured simultaneously during infusion of dopamine. Contribution of the pulmonary circulation was defined as the ratio between clearance through the pulmonary circulation and the total plasma clearance of dopamine. The calculated contribution values after CPB were 12.0, 10.7, 11.4, 16.2, and 16.7% at the doses of 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, respectively. Those values before CPB were 15.6% and 17.4% at the doses of 1.0 and 2.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, respectively. The comparison of the values before and after CPB did not achieve statistical significance. Furthermore, there were no significant correlations between the pulmonary clearance after CPB and mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, or CPB time. The results suggest that the pulmonary clearance mechanism for dopamine after CPB is maintained as effectively as that before CPB and is not influenced by pulmonary hypertension or CPB time.

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumour in infancy and childhood. The tumour usually produces large amounts of catecholamines. Few patients with neuroblastoma, however, were reported to have become hypertensive because of catecholamine metabolism within the tumour itself. This is one of the most important differences compared with pheochromocytomas. We experienced a hypertensive crisis accompanied by tachycardia and an increase in the plasma catecholamine concentration during surgery in a patient with neuroblastoma. The plasma catecholamine level was comparable to that of pheochromocytoma. Phentolamine and propranolol were effective to control the hypertension and tachycardia.

The contribution of the lungs to the clearance of exogenous dopamine was analyzed in humans by measuring plasma pulmonary concentrations of dopamine and the pulmonary plasma flow before and after infusion of dopamine. Contribution of the lungs was defined as the ratio between clearance by the lungs and the total plasma clearance of dopamine. Significant transpulmonary gradient of plasma dopamine was observed with infusions at rates of 1.0 and 2.0 μg·kg−1 ·min−1, but not at 0.5 μg·kg−1·min−1. The calculated contribution values were 4.90%, 19.23%, and 20.60% at the doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 μg·kg−1·min−1, respectively. The results suggest that the clearance mechanism of the lungs is effective when the plasma dopamine level becomes sufficiently high, and that the lungs clear 19%--21% of clinical doses of dopamine.

This study has been undertaken to determine whether pentazocine induces catecholamine efflux from the adrenal medulla as a mechanism for its sympathomimetic effect. Dog isolated adrenals were perfused retrogradely with modified Locke's solution. The efflux of catecholamines from dog perfused adrenals was increased from the resting output of 0.18 +/- 0.04 micrograms min-1 (mean +/- s.e.), to 0.47 +/- 0.13 micrograms min-1 by the administration of pentazocine (50 microM). The pentazocine-induced catecholamine efflux was dose-dependent in the 50-400 microM dose range. This effect of pentazocine was not inhibited by either a combination of atropine and (+)-tubocurarine, or verapamil, in contrast to acetylcholine-induced catecholamine release. There was no significant difference in potency among stereoisomers, i.e. (+)-, (-)- and (+/-)-pentazocine, in inducing catecholamine efflux. Naloxone did not influence the effects of either (+)- or (-)-pentazocine. The interaction of pentazocine with acetylcholine-induced catecholamine release was also examined. Both (+)- and (-)-pentazocine inhibited acetylcholine-induced catecholamine release dose-dependently, and these inhibitory effects were not reversed by naloxone. Acetylcholine-induced catecholamine release was accompanied by increased dopamine-beta-hydroxylase release, whereas pentazocine-induced catecholamine efflux was not. These results suggest that pentazocine directly acts on the adrenal medulla to induce catecholamine efflux via a non-exocytotic mechanism, and that opioid receptors do not play a role in this action.

The authors investigated the effect of phenytoin through the central nervous system on epinephrine-induced arrhythmias in halothane-anesthetized dogs. The arrhythmogenic dose (AD) of epinephrine during halothane anesthesia was determined in the presence of phenytoin (1 mg/kg), vehicle, and saline, which were administered directly into the cisterna magna. Phenytoin increased the AD of epinephrine as compared with vehicle or saline. The cerebrospinal and plasma concentration of phenytoin during the arrhythmias were 23.6 and less than 0.5 micrograms/ml, respectively. There was no significant difference in AD between the vehicle and saline groups. The same dose of phenytoin (1 mg/kg) administered intravenously did not affect the AD of epinephrine, and the plasma concentration of phenytoin during the arrhythmias was 1.2 micrograms/ml. These findings suggested that phenytoin exerts a protective effect against halothane-epinephrine arrhythmias through a central mechanism and that the central nervous system may be involved, at least in part, in the myocardial sensitization by halothane.

The authors investigated myocardial epinephrine sensitization by subanesthetic concentrations of halothane. The dose-response relationship for the action of halothane was examined with etomidate plus varying subanesthetic concentrations of halothane in dogs. The arrhythmogenic threshold of epinephrine was decreased in a dose-dependent manner at end-tidal concentrations of halothane between 0.1 and 0.3%. At end-tidal halothane is greater than 0.3%, and no further reduction of arrhythmogenic threshold of epinephrine occurred. The plasma concentrations of epinephrine producing four or more premature ventricular contractions in 15 s were 201.3 +/- 34.3, 98.1 +/- 13.9, 60.3 +/- 8.63, 57.9 +/- 12.8, 54.5 +/- 8.61, and 53.9 +/- 4.86 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM), at 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% of halothane at end-tidal concentrations, respectively. The results suggest that in the presence of etomidate, halothane produces myocardial sensitization to epinephrine at subanesthetic concentrations as low as 0.1%. Increasing halothane to 0.3% produces a further reduction in the arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine.

Although propofol is a widely used intravenous anesthetic, its effect on epinephrine-induced arrhythmias remains unknown. This study examined the possible interaction between propofol and epinephrine that might affect the induction of ventricular arrhythmias in dogs. The arrhythmogenic threshold of epinephrine was determined during anesthesia with halothane alone, propofol alone, etomidate alone, or etomidate plus varying doses of propofol. The arrhythmogenic dose and the corresponding plasma concentration of epinephrine during propofol anesthesia (blood propofol concentration 18.0 +/- 0.98 micrograms/ml) were 2.52 +/- 0.43 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 and 23.6 +/- 8.5 ng/ml, respectively. During halothane anesthesia (end-tidal 1.3 MAC), they were 2.66 +/- 0.21 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 and 35.7 +/- 1.9 ng/ml, respectively. During etomidate anesthesia, they were 9.67 +/- 1.06 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 and 205 +/- 27.5 ng/ml, respectively. The dose-effect relationship for propofol was examined during etomidate plus propofol anesthesia. Propofol reduced the arrhythmogenic plasma concentration of epinephrine in a concentration-dependent manner: at blood propofol concentrations of 2.33 +/- 0.46, 5.46 +/- 0.71, and 11.2 +/- 0.81 micrograms/ml, the corresponding plasma epinephrine concentrations were 182.6 +/- 52.5, 89.0 +/- 28.8, and 26.6 +/- 6.9 ng/ml, respectively. These results suggest that propofol enhances epinephrine-induced arrhythmias in a dose-dependent manner in dogs.