Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Do anesthetics fluidize membranes?

I Ueda, M Hirakawa, K Arakawa

    Anesthesiology
    |January 1, 1986
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Anesthetics do fluidize cell membranes by decreasing surface viscosity, contrary to previous beliefs. This study shows halothane significantly reduces membrane viscosity, challenging the notion that anesthetic effects on fluidity are negligible.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Electron efficiency measurements with the ATLAS detector using 2012 LHC proton-proton collision data.

    The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields·2017
    Same author

    Measurement of jet activity produced in top-quark events with an electron, a muon and two <i>b</i>-tagged jets in the final state in <i>pp</i> collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector.

    The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields·2017
    Same author

    Performance of algorithms that reconstruct missing transverse momentum in [Formula: see text]= 8 TeV proton-proton collisions in the ATLAS detector.

    The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields·2017
    Same author

    Measurement of the <i>W</i> boson polarisation in [Formula: see text] events from <i>pp</i> collisions at [Formula: see text] = 8 TeV in the lepton + jets channel with ATLAS.

    The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields·2017
    Same author

    Measurement of the prompt <i>J</i>/[Formula: see text] pair production cross-section in <i>pp</i> collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector.

    The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields·2017
    Same author

    Search for triboson [Formula: see text] production in <i>pp</i> collisions at [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] with the ATLAS detector.

    The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields·2017
    Same journal

    The Time-out.

    Anesthesiology·2026
    Same journal

    Evaluation of Post-block Hypersensitivity Using Quantitative Sensory Testing Before, During, and After Axillary Brachial Plexus Block Resolution in Healthy Volunteers.

    Anesthesiology·2026
    Same journal

    The state of medical education research in Anesthesiology: Current landscape and future directions - An initiative of the Anesthesia Research Council.

    Anesthesiology·2026
    Same journal

    Diagnostic Ultrasound-guided Focused Ultrasound-induced Noninvasive, Reversible Peripheral Nerve Blockade in an In Vivo Model of Acute Pain: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

    Anesthesiology·2026
    Same journal

    S-Ketamine Reduces Risk of Postoperative Delirium: Comment.

    Anesthesiology·2026
    Same journal

    Computed Tomography-Based Body Composition Assessment for Preoperative Cardiovascular Risk Prediction: A Prospective Cohort Study.

    Anesthesiology·2026
    See all related articles

    Area of Science:

    • Membrane biophysics
    • Anesthesiology
    • Surface chemistry

    Background:

    • The role of membrane fluidization in anesthesia is debated due to perceived insignificant changes in fluidity at clinical pressures.
    • The term "fluidity" has been historically misrepresented in membrane biology, often conflating probe molecule mobility with actual membrane viscosity.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effect of halothane on the surface viscosity of phospholipid monolayers.
    • To clarify the relationship between anesthetic pressure, membrane viscosity, and anesthetic mechanisms of action.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized an oscillating pendulum surface viscometer to measure the surface viscosity of a phospholipid monolayer.
    • Applied clinically relevant pressures of halothane to the monolayer.

    Related Experiment Videos

    Main Results:

    • Halothane significantly decreased surface viscosity by approximately 31% at clinical pressures.
    • Anesthetics were shown to effectively fluidize membranes, contradicting prior skepticism.
    • Halothane's effect on viscosity, despite minimal impact on the order parameter, suggests a weakening of lipid-water interactions.

    Conclusions:

    • Anesthetics, specifically halothane, do exert a significant fluidizing effect on cell membranes by reducing surface viscosity.
    • The primary mechanism of anesthetic action on membranes may involve weakening lipid-water interactions, rather than altering the membrane's internal order.
    • This research re-establishes membrane fluidization as a relevant factor in anesthesia.