Effect of the general anesthetic halothane on the activity of the transverse tubule Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel

Authors

• Troy Beeler, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
• Kenneth Gable, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Date of this Version

1993

Comments

Published in FEBS (1993) 331(3), 207-210

Abstract

The effect of the general anesthetic halothane on the activity of the rat skeletal muscle Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel in planar lipid bilayers was investigated. Halothane concentrations in the clinical range (1.0-0.2 mM) alter the regulation of the channel by both Ca²⁺ and membrane potential. At Ca²⁺ concentrations between 10 and 250 µM and membrane potentials between 0 and -30 mV, halothane significantly decreases the open state probability without changing the channel conductance. The results demonstrate that halothane can act directly on the Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel or its lipid environment to alter the channel Bating kinetics.