Reduced synthesis of hepatic and plasma proteins in rats during diethyl ether anaesthesia

The effect of diethyl ether anaesthesia on in vivo hepatic protein synthetic rates was tested in male Wistar rats. Protein synthesis was measured by an isotope technique after correction for measured levels of precursor specific radioactivity. It was shown that usual anaesthetic levels of diethyl ether reduced the rate of synthesis of liver proteins with 20% compared to a group receiving no anaesthesia. The synthesis/secretion of plasma proteins was much more inhibited, with approximately 70-80%, compared to animals either receiving no anaesthesia or pentobarbital. Monitoring of ether concentrations therefore seems necessary in experiments in which the hepatic capacity for protein synthesis/secretion is measured.