Halothane effect on cAMP generation and hydrolysis in rat brain.

The volatile anesthetic halothane increased the rate of cAMP generation and decreased the rate of cAMP hydrolysis in rat cerebral cortex and cerebellum. The effect of halothane on the enzymes was reflected in a two-fold rise in cAMP content of cerebral cortical tissue exposed to the anesthetic at 3 vol% for 15 and 30 min. The action of halothane on adenylate cyclase is calcium-independent and different from the action of guanine nucleotides, sodium fluoride and specific transmitters. The Vmax of the enzyme is higher in the presence of the anesthetic. It is suggested that halothane, through conformational changes of the enzyme, renders more catalytic sites operative.