[Characteristics of the change in oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria of various organs under nitrous oxide...

Nitrous oxide was discovered to have different effects on oxidative phosphorylation of heart, liver, kidney and brain mitochondria. The most demonstrable changes were found in the myocardium and liver. An increase in the anesthetic concentration provoked a more considerable inhibition of the rate of oxygen consumption in different metabolic states and of the phosphorylation rate of liver and myocardial mitochondria. High doses of nitrous oxide were found to inhibit ATPase activity of myocardial actomyosin. The action of the anesthetic on the brain manifested in the inhibition of the phosphorylation rate, that on the kidneys in the increased rate of free oxidation.