INCREASED FREQUENCY OF MICRONUCLEATED KIDNEY-CELLS IN RATS EXPOSED TOHALOGENATED ANESTHETICS

Six halogenated anaesthetics were tested for their ability to induce m icronuclei formation in the rat kidney. A statistically significant in crease in the frequency of micronucleated cells was detected in rats g iven a single p.o., dose of 4 mmol/kg of halothane (3.48 X baseline), chloroform (3.32 x baseline), trichloroethylene (3.24 x baseline), sev oflurane (2.98 x baseline), and isoflurane (2.95 X baseline). In contr ast, the response was substantially negative in rats given the same do se of enflurane. As compared to controls, rats treated with halothane and trichloroethylene displayed a reduction in the frequency of binucl eated cells presumably due to a toxicity-induced inhibition of cellula r proliferation. These findings suggest a potential genotoxic activity of halogenated anaesthetics for the rat kidney. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence B.V.