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THE EFFECT OF CNS DEPRESSANTS ON MITOSIS
Author(s) -
M.D. Nikaan B. Andersen,
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1966.tb00362.x
Subject(s) - mitosis , metaphase , colchicine , microbiology and biotechnology , anesthetic , medicine , biology , biophysics , biochemistry , anesthesia , genetics , chromosome , gene
SUMMARY During the last 30 years many studies have shown that most anesthetic agents in addition to some narcotics and tranquilizers interfere with normal cell division. It appears that anesthetics in the right concentration, which usually is within the range used clinically, arrest mitosis in metaphase. Metaphase block is called “c‐mitosis” since it was first seen after the application of the antimitotic poison, colchicine. The nature of “crc‐mitosis” is unknown, but a relation of known anesthetic effects to “c‐mitosis” indicates that anesthetic agents and presumably other mitotic poisons may interfere with normal aerobic metabolism by inhibiting one of two independent electron transporting systems, the “activity” respiration. The site of action seems to be one of the initial steps in the mitochondria1 electron carrier chain, maybe DPNH and its oxidase, and ascorbic acid could be intimately connected with this system. “C‐mitotic” agents interfere with the function of the mitotic spindle. Spindle contraction and elongation are likely to be similar to the contraction and elongation of general muscle and seem to depend upon different phosphagens as the source of energy. An inhibition of the “activity” respiration mentioned above may deprive the spindle of the necessary energy with spindle inactivation or destruction, i. e. metaphase block, as the result. It is discussed whether “c‐mitotic” agents are potentially teratogenic, but although there are certain indications in this direction, it is too early to give a conclusive answer. Preliminary studies suggest that anesthetic gases and vapors are teratogenic in the chick embryo.