The effect of exposure to halogenated anaesthetics on liver glutathione levels in rats. An index of hepatotoxicity.

Having studied anaesthetic drug interactions in rats, we report the effects of halogenated anaesthetics on the liver glutathione levels and histology, as well as the results of the enhancement of these effects by microsomal enzyme induction. The anaesthetic agents studied included methoxyflurane, halothane, ethrane, chloroform and fluroxene. While exposure of rats to methoxyflurane, helothane and ethrane produced no significant changes in hepatic glutathione levels, or in liver histology, exposure to chloroform and fluroxene produced marked depression of liver glutathione, especially after microsomal enzyme induction. Furthermore, rats exposed to thses agents after enzyme induction developed gross centrilobular necrosis and died. It is suggested that the study of the effects of any new anaesthetic agent on liver glutathione levels could be a valuable screening test of its hepatotoxic potential, before its clinical trial.