Subcellular effects of some anesthetic agents on rat myocardium

The effects of ether, chloroform, and halothane on calcium accumulation and ATPase activity of rat heart microsomes and mitochondria as well as on myofibrillar ATPase activity were investigated. Chloroform and halothane depressed microsomal and mitochondrial calcium uptake and binding in a parallel fashion. Ether decreased microsomal calcium binding and mitochondrial calcium uptake to varying degrees, while mitochondrial calcium binding was slightly enhanced. Whereas ether had no effect, chloroform depressed microsomal and mitochondrial total APTase activities and halothane decreased microsomsl ATPase and slightly stimulated mitochondrial total ATPase activities. Halothane was found to depress myofibrillar Mg2+-ATPase and ether was capable of decreasing myofibrillar Ca2+-ATPase. Chloroform was seen to inhibit both myofibrillar enzymes. These results suggest that the cardiodepressant actions of volatile anesthetic agents may be due to alterations in the calcium accumulating abilities of microsomal and mitochondrial membranes while direct myofibrillar effects may contribute to the depression seen with relatively higher concentrations of anesthetics.