[Changes in the cell cycle of cultured lymphocytes from patients subjected to halothane anesthesia]

The effect of halothane anesthesia on the proliferative activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes was analyzed. Included in the study were 7 patients. Lymphocyte cultures were prepared by standard methods with blood samples obtained immediately before the operation, after the effect of halothane anesthesia was over and 24 hours later. 5-bromodeoxyuridine in concentration 10 micrograms/ml was used for labelling cells which had passed 1, 2 or more mitotic cycles within the cultivation time. Cell proliferation rate was evaluated by the proportion of metaphases from I, II and III mitotic cycle. Lymphocyte proliferation in the cultures was shown to be inhibited after halothane anesthesia. Inhibition was particularly strong in the first post-halothane sample, but kept on being strong also 24 hours later. The first mitotic cycle was markedly prolonged--to such a degree that subsequent cycles within the 72-hour cultivation period were fully absent. The results were discussed in the light of the overall effect of halothane in the process of its metabolism, its effect on DNA synthesis and eventual implication of additional immunologic mechanisms.