[Influence of curare and methohexital-Na on the content of energy-rich phosphates and substrates of glycolysis in rat liver (author's transl)].

Our investigations demonstrate that 7',12'-dihydroxy-6,6'-dimethoxy-2,2,2',2'-tetramethyl-tubocuraranium dihydroxide (D-tubocurarine, Curarin-Asta), in the following briefly called curare, and methohexital sodium influence glycolysis and energy metabolism of rat liver cells. Within the first 5 min after i.v. application of curare we observed a decrease of ATP levels due to either increased energy demands during cellular metabolism or to a decrease of ATP production in the respiratory chain. This effect was followed by an activation of glycolysis as demonstrated by a decrease of cytoplasmic glycogen and an increase of glucose-6-phosphate. Simultaneously, cytoplasmic lactate levels were increased and redox potentials significantly shifted. The latter effect is caused by alterations in the lactate-pyruvate ratios. In contrast, methohexital sodium induced a significant increase of cellular ATP levels. The observed low lactate-pyruvate ratio and the changes in the adenylate system following methohexital sodium suggest that this drug reduces energy consumption during cellular metabolism.