Chloral hydrate anesthesia alters cerebral enzymes in the rat. A histochemical study
Trulson, M.E.; Ulissey, M.J.
Acta Anatomica 130(4): 319-323
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5180 PMID: 3434184 Document Number: 297779
Cerebral forebrain arterioles and neuropil were analyzed histochemically to determine the effects of chloral hydrate anesthesia on key enzymes of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, as well as the hexose monophosphate shunt in rats. Significant decreases were observed in cytochrome oxidase, and .beta.-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in arterioles, while glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and isocitric dehydrogenase showed a significant increase and lactate dehydrogenase showed no significant change. In the neuropil, cytochrome oxidase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase showed significant increases following chloral hydrate administration, while .beta.-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase showed no significant changes. These data suggest that surgical anesthetic levels of chloral hydrate can impair forebrain metabolism which may lead to altered electrophysiological responses.