The effect of halothane on active transport of sodium in the epithelial cell

The authors studied the effect of halothane on active transport of sodium in the epithelial cells using the method described by Ussing with frog skin as an experimental model. It was found that the action of the anasthetic agent on the active transport of sodium was biphasic, and this observation confirmed the results obtained with another experimental model. It was observed, moreover, that the mechanism of halothane action on the cell membrane it not identical with that of vasopressin, which was used in some of the present experiments before adding halothane. The present investigations suggest that halothane acts primarily on the cell membrane and not on the deeper situated intracellular structures.