ANESTHESIA-INDUCED MODULATION OF IN-VIVO ANTIBODY-LEVELS - A STUDY OFPENTOBARBITAL, CHLORAL HYDRATE, METHOXYFLURANE, HALOTHANE, AND KETAMINE XYLAZINE

The influence of anesthesia on long-term changes in in vivo antibody l evels after antigen challenge was examined. Rats experienced a surgica l plane of various anesthesics alone (anesthesia/intact) or in combina tion with laparatomy (anesthesia/laparatomy) and were given 1 or 3 wk to recover. Antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, was then administered, and antibody levels specific to the antigen were measured during the next 14 days. Comparisons were made between anesthesia-treated animals and home cage controls. Pentobarbital and chloral hydrate produced de creases in in vivo antibody levels even 3 wk after exposure, whereas h alothane, methoxyflurane, and ketamine/xylazine did not. Ketamine/xyla zine produced moderate but not significant decreases in antibody level s when 1 wk intervened between exposure and antigen administration, bu t not when 3 wk intervened. Surgery did not produce larger changes in antibody levels than did anesthesia itself. These data suggest the pos sibility that some anesthetics, per se, may contribute to infection th at may occur postoperatively.