Similarity between Effects of General Anesthetics and Dinitrophenol on Cortical Neurones

Abstract

In lightly anesthetized cats, a brief administration of methohexital (intravenously), or halothane, methoxyflurane, or other gaseous anesthetics (by inhalation) causes a temporary, selective depression of the spontaneous firing and acetylcholine-evoked responses of deep pericruciate neurones, but relatively little change or even an enhancement of glutamate-evoked firing. These effects are very similar to those produced by local application of dinitrophenol, and therefore support the idea that anesthetics act by inhibiting aerobic metabolism.