Proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and induction of microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes after ether or halothane

Hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes and hepatic ultrastructure were studied in rats after two hours of anesthesia with 1 MAC halothane or diethyl ether. Twelve hours after cessation of either anesthetic smooth endoplasmic reticulum was increased in centrilobular but not in periportal hepatocytes. This change persisted at 24- and 36-hour sampling times. Microsomal cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5 decreased after halothane anesthesia (by 7 to 20 per cent of control). Diethyl ether caused increased cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5 (27 and 18 per cent, respectively) at the 36-hour sampling time. NADPH cytochrome c reductase did not change significantly after either agent. The authors interpret these results to mean that both agents promote conversion of rough endoplasmic reticulum to smooth endoplasmic reticulum or, alternatively, that the anesthetics decrease degradation of smooth endoplasmic membranes. Since only ether caused an increase in the microsomal content of enzymes of the drug-metabolizing enzyme system, it is concluded that these two anesthetics act on hepatic cells by dissimilar mechanisms.