Effect of halothane or pentobarbital anesthesia on blastogenesis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in dogs.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of general anesthesia on blastogenesis of lymphocytes in dogs. Lymphocytes collected from the anesthetized dog were incubated with concanavalin A (Con A) or phytohemaggulutinin (PHA) mitogen. Blastogenesis of lymphocytes stimulated by these mitogens were evaluated by the stimulation index (S.I.) from the incorporation of3H-thymidine. In halothane anesthesia (GOF) group, each dog was induced anesthesia by mask inhalation of 4% halothane and maintained by 1% halothane through a tracheal tube for 2 hrs (Group A) . A significant decrease in S.I. value was indicated from 24 hrs to 4 weeks and the lowest value was recorded at 2 weeks after the anesthesia. In pentobarbital anesthesia group, receiving at a dose of 25 mg/kg intravenously (Group B), the lower values compared to those of pre-anesthesia were recognized at 24 hrs and 2 weeks after the anesthesia. The suppressive effect on blastogenesis of peripheral lymphocytes of halothane anesthesia was stronger than that of the pentobarbital anesthesia.