Effect of endotracheal anaesthesia on the activity of lysosomal enzymes in peripheral blood granulocytes

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of endotracheal anaesthesia on the activity of lysosomal enzymes in peripheral blood granulocytes. The determinations were carried out before anaesthesia, after 1 hour of anaesthesia and 1 hour after awakening. The activity of lysosomal enzymes was assessed on the basis of the activity of marker-enzymes, i.e. acid phosphatase, acid protease and neutral protease. The lysosomal fraction was prepared by Choduker's method and the activity of lysosomal enzymes was calculated for 100 mug of protein. The obtained results showed a statistically not significant rise in the activity of these enzymes in the lysosomes during anaesthesia without a similar rise in the supernatant. The activity of marker enzymes in lysosomes rose to the initial values after the awakening of patients. Such rapid changes in the activity of lysosomal enzymes seem to depend mainly on the mobilization of the reserve pool of granulocytes from other sources than the peripheral blood and, to a lesser extent, on latency and stabilization of lysosomal membranes by anaesthetic agents used in correctly conducted anaesthesia.