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GENERAL ARTICLES

Effects of Nonimmobilizers and Halothane on Caenorhabditis elegans

Departments of Anesthesiology and Genetics, University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Philip G. Morgan, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, 2400 Bolwell Building, University Hospitals, 11100 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106. Address e-mail to philip.morgan{at}uhhs.com

We studied the effects of two nonimmobilizers, a transitional compound, and halothane on the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, by using reversible immobility as an end point. By themselves, the nonimmobilizers did not immobilize any of the four strains of animals tested. Toluene appears to be a transitional compound for all strains tested. The additive effects of the nonimmobilizers with halothane were also studied. Similar to results seen in studies of mice, the nonimmobilizers were antagonistic to halothane in the wild type nematode. However, the nonimmobilizers did not affect the 50% effective concentrations of halothane for two other mutant strains. For halothane, the slopes of the dose response curves were smaller in more sensitive strains compared with the wild type. As in mammals, nonimmobilizers antagonize the effects of halothane on the nematode, C. elegans. The variation in slopes in the response to halothane in different strains is consistent with multiple sites of action. These results support the use of C. elegans as a model for the study of anesthetics.

Implications: As in mammals, nonimmobilizers antagonize the effects of halothane on the nematode, C. elegans. The variation in slopes in the response to halothane in different strains is consistent with multiple sites of action. These results support the use of C. elegans as a model for the study of anesthetics.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. A. Humphrey, M. M. Sedensky, and P. G. Morgan Understanding anesthesia: making genetic sense of the absence of senses Hum. Mol. Genet., May 15, 2002; 11(10): 1241 - 1249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]