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Effects of General Anaesthetics on Na+ Transport in Human Red Cells

Nature volume 225, pages 1151–1152 (1970)Cite this article

Abstract

THEORIES of general anaesthesia have frequently been based on the suggestion that anaesthetic agents perturb the transport of ions through cell membranes1,2. In some theories, inhibition of transport has been invoked3,4, whereas in others5, facilitated transport in the presence of anaesthetics is proposed, but experimental evidence for either of these views is often contradictory. Anaesthetics have been observed to inhibit cation fluxes across nerve cell membranes during the transmission of impulses6, and recently work on inverted frog skin preparations7 and on the isolated toad bladder8 has indicated that active cation transport may be affected by general anaesthetics. We have investigated the effect of ether and chloroform on active cation transport in human red cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Chemistry Laboratory, South Parks Road, Oxford

    M. J. HALSEY, E. B. SMITH & T. E. WOOD

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  1. M. J. HALSEY
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  2. E. B. SMITH
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  3. T. E. WOOD
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HALSEY, M., SMITH, E. & WOOD, T. Effects of General Anaesthetics on Na+ Transport in Human Red Cells. Nature 225, 1151–1152 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/2251151a0

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