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Anesthetics Affect Membrane Heterogeneity a
Author(s) -
JØRGENSEN KENT,
IPSEN JOHN HJORT,
MOURITSEN OLE G.,
BENNETT DONALD,
ZUCKERMANN MARTIN J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1991.tb33908.x
Subject(s) - danish , technical university , library science , german , computer science , history , archaeology , linguistics , philosophy
A computer-simulation study is performed on a simple but general molecular model of the interaction of general and local anesthetics with lipid membranes. In the neighborhood of the gel-to-fluid membrane phase transition it is found that anesthetics have a strong effect on the heterogeneity of the membrane-inducing regions of locally high anesthetics concentration. This leads to a broadening of the specific heat peak and a maximum in the membrane/water partition coefficient. These results are in accordance with available experimental data for volatile general anesthetics like halothane and local anesthetics like cocaine derivatives.