Multipotent adult progenitor cells: their role in wound healing and the treatment of dermal wounds.

The use of cellular therapy in the treatment of dermal wounds is currently an active area of investigation. Multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPC) are an attractive choice for cytotherapy because they have a large proliferative potential, the ability to differentiate into different cell types and produce a variety of cytokines and growth factors important to wound healing. Whole bone marrow (BM) was one of the initial attempts to treat impaired wounds. While it has shown some promise, the low frequency of progenitor cell populations in BM and the large number of inflammatory cells make it less attractive. Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and endothelial progenitor cells are populations of BM-derived progenitor cells that have been isolated and used to treat chronic wounds with some success. Skin-derived MAPC are another heterogeneous population of progenitor cells present in the skin with the potential to differentiate into skin elements and participate in wound healing. All of these progenitor cell populations are potential sources for cytotherapy of wounds. This review focused on the contribution of adult progenitor cell populations to dermal wound healing and their potential for use in cytotherapy.

Humoral immune response to a sevoflurane degradation product in the guinea pig following inhalation exposure.

Compound A (2-fluoromethoxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-1-propene) is produced by reaction of the inhalation anesthetic, sevoflurane, with CO2 absorbents. Compound A has been reported to directly react with protein. Since adduction of proteins can transform them into antigenic material, Compound A was assessed for its ability to produce a humoral immune response. Male outbred Hartley guinea pigs (500-600 g, N = 7) were exposed via inhalation for 4 h to a subtoxic level (100 ppm) of Compound A, 3 times, at 42 day intervals. Blood samples obtained at 2, 14, 28 and 40 days after each exposure were measured for ALT, creatinine, and urea nitrogen and for the presence of antibodies to trifluoroacetylated guinea pig albumin (TFA-GSA). All indicators of liver and kidney injury remained within normal range throughout the course of the study. A humoral immune response to TFA-GSA was observed following each exposure to Compound A with a titer appearing by day 14 after exposure, peaking near day 28, and resolving to normal levels by day 40. The titer levels were approximately equivalent after each exposure and about one-third that previously seen in guinea pigs after multiple exposures to halothane. Compound A would appear to have the ability to form antigenic adducts during inhalation exposure. These findings are similar to those observed for halogenated inhalation anesthetics that have been linked to cases of immune-medicated idiosyncratic hepatitis and indicate that Compound A exposure may pose the same hazard.

Hepatoprotection by dimethyl sulfoxide. III. Role of inhibition of the bioactivation and covalent bonding of chloroform.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has previously been shown to have the ability to attenuate chloroform (CHCl(3))-induced liver injury in the naive rat even when administered 24 h after the toxicant. These studies were undertaken to determine if the protective action by late administration of DMSO is due to an inhibition of the bioactivation of CHCl(3). This was done by comparing the cytochrome P450 inhibitors, diallyl sulfide (DAS), and aminobenzotriazole (ABT) to DMSO for their protective efficacy when administered 24 h after CHCl(3) exposure. In addition, (14)CHCl(3) was utilized to measure the effect of DMSO and ABT on the covalent binding of CHCl(3) in the liver following their late administration. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-350 g) received 0.75 ml/kg CHCl(3) po. Twenty-four hours later, they received ip injection of 2 ml/kg DMSO, 100 mg/kg DAS, or 30 mg/kg ABT. Plasma ALT activities and quantitation of liver injury by light microscopy at 48 h after CHCl(3) dosing indicated that all three treatments were equally effective at protecting the liver. A detailed study of the time course of injury development indicated that the protective action of DMSO was occurring within 10 h of its administration. Therefore, in the radiolabel studies, rats were killed 24-34 h after receiving 0.75 ml/kg CHCl(3) (30 microCi/kg (14)CHCl(3)) po. Treatment with ABT at 24 h after (14)CHCl(3) dosing decreased the covalent binding of (14)C to hepatic protein by 35% and reduced the amount of (14)C in the blood by 50% by 10 h after its administration. DMSO treatment did not significantly affect any of these parameters. The lack of effect by late administration of DMSO on the covalent binding of CHCl(3) would indicate that DMSO may offer protection by mechanisms other than inhibition of the bioactivation of CHCl(3). These studies also indicate that specific cytochrome P450 inhibitors may be of benefit in clinical situations to help treat the delayed onset hepatitis that can result following poisoning with an organohalogen, even if the antidotes are administered a number of hours after the initial exposure.

Hepatoprotection by dimethyl sulfoxide. I. Protection when given twenty-four hours after chloroform or bromobenzene.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has previously been reported to protect against hepatotoxicity resulting from chloroform (CHCl3) or bromobenzene (BB) when given 10 hr after the toxicant. The object of these studies was to further demonstrate the latent protective ability of DMSO by administering it at a much later time (24 hr) following toxicant exposure. In addition, a more detailed evaluation of the lesions was performed to better characterize the lesion progression and resolution. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a hepatotoxic oral dose of either CHCl3 (1.0 ml/kg) or BB (0.5 ml/kg) and then received 2 ml/kg DMSO intraperitoneally 24 hr later. With both toxicants, limited centrilobular lesions were already present by the time DMSO was administered. Without treatment, liver injury rapidly progressed so that by 48 hr it occupied 40-50% of the liver, with accompanying large increases in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. Administration of DMSO greatly attenuated lesion development for both toxicants; the area injured was reduced by more than 4-fold, accompanied by a decrease in 48 hr ALT activity of 8-16-fold. The ability of DMSO to intervene in the development of liver injury at such a late time appears to be unique and may provide insight into therapies for acute xenobiotic-induced hepatitis.

Hepatoprotection by dimethyl sulfoxide. II. Characterization of optimal dose and the latest time of administration for effective protection against chloroform and bromobenzene induced injury.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has previously been shown to attenuate chloroform (CHCl3) and bromobenzene (BB) induced hepatotoxicity in the rat when a dose of 2.0 ml/kg is given 24 hr after the toxicants. However, the optimal dose of DMSO and the latest time at which DMSO can be administered and still provide effective protection have not been determined. In order to determine the latest time at which DMSO can interrupt the development of necrosis, male Sprague Dawley rats received either 0.75 ml/kg CHCl3 or 0.5 ml/kg BB, 20% in corn oil, p.o., followed by single dose of 2 ml/kg DMSO, 50% in saline, i.p., at 24, 26, 28 or 30 hr later. Positive control groups received either CHCl3 or BB and then 4.0 ml/kg saline, i.p., 24 hr later. All of the animals were then killed 48 hr after toxicant dosing. The extent of liver injury present when DMSO was administered was examined by killing animals at 24, 26, 28 or 30 hr after toxicant dosing. The optimal dose of DMSO for providing protection was estimated by administering either 0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 or 4.0 ml/kg DMSO at 24 hr after toxicant dosing and then killing the animals at 48 hr. Delaying DMSO administration to times later than 24 hr after toxicant dosing led to a loss of protection as indicated by both plasma ALT activity and the light microscopic appearance of liver tissue. The distinctive liver lesions present at 24 hr after CHCl3 or BB dosing rapidly expanded from being limited around central veins to bridging between centrilobular areas in only a few hours. This was accompanied by large increases in plasma ALT. With both toxicants, doses of DMSO greater than 2 ml/kg did not enhance its protective action while the lower dose of 1 ml/kg DMSO was not as effective. The loss of DMSO's antidotal action when given at times later than 24 hr after the toxicants indicates irreversible changes were underway as the centrilobular lesions progressed from being limited to more bridging in nature. Hopefully, further elucidation of the mechanism(s) by which DMSO interrupts the rapid progression of injury will both help to understand the steps involved in lesion development and provide insights into therapeutic interventions for drug and chemical induced hepatitis.

Late dimethyl sulfoxide administration provides a protective action against chemically induced injury in both the liver and the kidney.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) can protect the liver from injury produced by a variety of hepatotoxicants when administered prior to or concomitant with the toxicants. This protective action has previously been attributed to DMSO-induced inhibition of bioactivation of the compounds to toxic intermediates. In these studies, the ability of DMSO to provide protection when administered 10 hr after a toxicant was evaluated in several animal models of xenobiotic-induced liver and kidney injury. In the guinea pig model of halothane-associated hepatotoxicity, male outbred Hartley guinea pigs received 2 ml/kg DMSO 10 hr after an inhalation exposure to 1.0% halothane, 40% O2 for 4 hr. DMSO decreased the extent of liver necrosis as indicated by a threefold decrease in plasma alanine aminotransferase activity 48 hr after exposure and a reduction in the incidence and extent of zone 3 necrosis. These results do not appear to be due to alterations in halothane biotransformation since DMSO administered at 10 hr after halothane had no affect on plasma concentrations of the halothane metabolite tritluoroacetic acid or covalent binding by reactive halothane biotransformation intermediates to hepatic protein. In addition, administration of the structurally analogous biotransformation inhibitor diallyl sulfide at 10 hr after halothane also had no affect on biotransformation or covalent binding but provided no protection from liver injury. Hepatic glutathione concentrations in the guinea pigs 24 hr after halothane exposure were also unaffected by late treatment with DMSO. Further studies in male Sprague-Dawley rats demonstrated the ability of DMSO to decrease the hepatic injury resulting from oral administration of 1.0 ml/kg chloroform or 0.5 ml/kg bromobenzene when administered 10 hr after either toxicant. The chloroform-treated rats also developed renal tubular necrosis with large increases in plasma creatinine and urea nitrogen, which were completely ameliorated by DMSO. Elucidating the mechanism(s) of this protective action of late DMSO administration should provide insight into the cascade of events that lead to liver and kidney injury from toxicants and, hopefully, therapeutic modalities for individuals suffering from acute, progressing, xenobiotic-induced hepatitis.

Biotransformation and hepatotoxicity of HCFC-123 in the guinea pig: potentiation of hepatic injury by prior glutathione depletion.

The chlorofluorocarbon substitute 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123) is a structural analog of halothane. Both are oxidatively metabolized by CYP2EI, producing a reactive trifluoroacyl acid chloride intermediate and have been shown to cause acute liver necrosis in the guinea pig. With halothane, liver injury has been associated with the degree of reactive intermediate binding to hepatic protein. This injury can be potentiated by prior glutathione (GSH) depletion. Thus, the combination of GSH depletion and HCFC-123 exposure was evaluated for its hepatotoxic potential in this species. Male outbred Hartley guinea pigs were injected with either 0.8 g/kg l-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO) to deplete hepatic glutathione or vehicle control solution 24 hr before a 4-hr inhalation exposure to 1.0% (v/v) HCFC-123 with 40% O2. HCFC-123 caused minimal liver injury with only 1 of 8 exposed animals displaying confluent zone 3 necrosis. GSH depletion potentiated injury producing submassive to massive liver necrosis in some animals. This potentiation was associated with a 36% increase in covalent binding of reactive HCFC-123 intermediates to hepatic protein. These results were not due to alterations in the biotransformation of HCFC-123 as indicated by plasma concentrations of the metabolites trifluoroacetic acid and fluoride ion which were not affected by BSO pretreatment. HCFC-123 was also found to cause a decrease in liver GSH concentrations following exposure. These findings demonstrate a role for hepatic GSH in helping to prevent covalent binding by the trifluoroacyl acid chloride intermediate. Inhalation of HCFC-123 can cause acute hepatic injury in the guinea pig that is worsened by low hepatic GSH concentrations.

A model for fatal halothane hepatitis in the guinea pig.

BACKGROUND: In the guinea pig, depleting hepatic glutathione before inhaling subanesthetic 0.1% halothane increases covalent binding of halothane biotransformation intermediates to hepatic protein and potentiates resultant liver injury. Because inhalation of a higher concentration of halothane is known to produce greater levels of covalent binding than with subanesthetic halothane, this study was undertaken with 0.25-1.0% halothane concentrations to further examine glutathione depletion as an etiology for halothane hepatitis. METHODS: Male Hartley guinea pigs were injected intraperitoneally with either vehicle control solution (Veh) or 1.6 g/kg buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), to decrease hepatic glutathione by > 80%, 24 h before a 4-h exposure to 0.25%, 0.5%, or (v/v) halothane with 40% O2. Some BSO-pretreated animals also received 2.0 g/kg glutathione monoethyl ester (GEE), intraperitoneally, 2 h before inhaling halothane to replenish hepatic glutathione. RESULTS: Glutathione-depleted animals developed significantly worse hepatic injury with each halothane concentration. One-third to one-half of BSO+halothane-treated animals developed fatal submassive to massive hepatic necrosis. Covalent binding of halothane intermediates to hepatic protein increased by 45% in BSO + 1.0% halothane-treated guinea pigs. Administration of GEE to BSO-pretreated animals before 1.0% halothane decreased binding to protein and blunted development of liver necrosis. Following Veh + 1.0% halothane, hepatic glutathione was found to be decreased by 60%. CONCLUSIONS: Glutathione would appear to help protect hepatocytes to some degree from covalent binding by reactive halothane biotransformation intermediates. These studies present the first animal model to produce fatal halothane-induced hepatic necrosis.

Concentration-dependent inhibition of halothane biotransformation in the guinea pig.

Previous studies have indicated concentration-dependent inhibition of halothane's biotransformation by the hepatic cytochrome P-450 enzyme system. In order to investigate this phenomenon in the guinea pig model of acute halothane-associated hepatotoxicity, male outbred Hartley guinea pigs underwent 4 hr inhalation exposures to either subanesthetic (0.1%) or anesthetic (1.0%) concentrations of halothane with 40% O2. Plasma concentrations of the primary halothane metabolite, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) were one-half as great immediately (0 hr) after the 1% exposure as they were with 0.1%. By 10 hr after exposure plasma TFA had increased significantly in both treatment groups. However, there was a much greater rate of increase with 1% halothane so that values were now more than 50% greater than with 0.1% halothane. Plasma TFA in the 1% halothane group remained significantly greater over the 96-hr time course of the experiment. Covalent binding of reactive halothane biotransformation intermediates to hepatic protein paralleled plasma TFA. At 0 hr, the degree of binding in the 1% halothane group was one-half as great as in the 0.1% group and by 10 hr after had increased to be nearly twice as great as the 0.1% group that had not increased between the time points. These data provide strong evidence for substrate-specific inhibition of halothane biotransformation with the majority of biotransformation occurring in the hours following exposure to an anesthetic (1%) concentration of the drug. These metabolic dynamics should be considered in studies of other organohalogens, including the new refrigerants that are structurally similar to halothane.

Glutathione depletion enhances subanesthetic halothane hepatotoxicity in guinea pigs.

Reduced glutathione has a potential role in protecting the liver against the reactive acyl acid chloride intermediate generated during the oxidative biotransformation of halothane. Glutathione is also important in maintaining the integrity of an injured cell. Thus, the effect of decreased hepatic glutathione concentrations on covalent binding of halothane metabolic intermediates to hepatic protein and lipid and the resultant hepatic injury were investigated in male, outbred Hartley guinea pigs. The animals were injected with either 1.6 g.kg-1 dl-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine to deplete hepatic glutathione or vehicle-control solution 24 h before exposure to 0.1% (subanesthetic) halothane for 4 h (fractional inspired oxygen tension = 0.40). Buthionine sulfoximine pretreatment depleted liver glutathione concentrations by 85% at the time of halothane exposure, without affecting the degree of halothane biotransformation or causing hepatic injury. Glutathione depletion caused a significant increase in the level of organic fluorine covalently bound to hepatic protein but not lipid after halothane exposure. Glutathione-depleted animals also exhibited a significant enhancement of hepatotoxicity after halothane exposure; plasma isocitrate dehydrogenase activity was 25-fold greater than the increase observed 48 h after exposure in animals treated with vehicle plus halothane, and the incidence and severity of hepatic injury were significantly greater, as observed by light microscopic examination of tissue 96 h after exposure. These findings are in agreement with a previously proposed mechanism of halothane-associated hepatotoxicity in guinea pigs and indicate that hepatic glutathione status may play an important role in the susceptibility of patients to halothane-induced liver injury.

Subanesthetic halothane is hepatotoxic in the guinea pig.

Subanesthetic concentrations of halothane were examined for their hepatotoxic potential in the guinea pig. Outbred male, Hartley guinea pigs (600-700 g) were exposed to either 1.0%, 0.25%, or 0.10% (vol/vol) halothane, 40% O2, for 4 h. Plasma isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) activity was compared to plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) for sensitivity as an indicator of hepatic injury. As previously seen, exposure to the anesthetic concentration of 1.0% halothane produced limited to confluent centrilobular necrosis in 50% (4/8) of the guinea pigs. The subanesthetic concentrations of 0.25% and 0.1% halothane were also hepatotoxic. After exposure to 0.25%, confluent centrilobular necrosis developed in 2 of 8 animals, whereas 0.10% halothane produced limited centrilobular necrosis in 3 of 8. Plasma ICDH activity was a more sensitive indicator of halothane-induced hepatic injury than ALT. Mean plasma ALT activity increased significantly after 1.0% halothane exposure only. However, ICDH activity was significantly increased after exposure to all three concentrations of halothane. Comparison of peak plasma enzyme activities demonstrated significantly larger increases in ICDH than in ALT when centrilobular necrosis was present. Use of subanesthetic concentrations of halothane should help overcome the many transient effect that high concentrations of halothane have on whole liver and hepatocyte functions. By being able to isolate and titrate the bioactivation of halothane, the mechanisms through which halothane biotransformation produces acute hepatotoxicity should be more easily elucidated.

Covalent binding of oxidative biotransformation reactive intermediates to protein influences halothane-associated hepatotoxicity in guinea pigs.

Halothane (CF3CBrClH; H) biotransformation by cyt P-450 produces reactive intermediates along both oxidative (acyl chloride) and reductive (free radical) pathways that ultimately generate the metabolites trifluoroacetic acid and F-, respectively. Inhibiting oxidative metabolism with deuterated halothane (d-H) reduces resultant injury in our guinea pig model of acute H hepatoxicity. To elucidate whether covalent binding of reactive intermediates to proteins (oxidative pathway) or lipids (reductive pathway) is a mechanism of necrosis, male outbred Hartley guinea pigs (600-725 g), N = 8, were exposed to either 1% (v/v) H or d-H at either 40% or 10% O2 for 4 hr. One-half of the animals were killed immediately after exposure for binding studies; the remainder at 96 hr post for evaluation of hepatotoxicity. Covalent binding of halothane intermediates to liver protein or lipid was determined by measuring the fluoride content of the bound moieties. The use of d-H and/or 10% O2 during exposure led to 63-88% reductions (p less than 0.01) in plasma trifluoroacetic acid concentrations (H-40% O2 = 546; 73 mM, N = 8) which were accompanied by 33-60% decreases (p less than 0.01) in binding to liver proteins (H-40% O2 = 1.36; 0.26 nmoles bound F-/mg protein, N = 4), 78-84% decreases (p less than 0.05) in 48 hr plasma ALT levels (H-40% O2 = 308; 219, control = 23 + 3, N = 4) and a total amelioration of centilobular necrosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Covalent binding of oxidative biotransformation intermediates is associated with halothane hepatotoxicity in guinea pigs.

In vivo covalent binding of halothane biotransformation-reactive intermediates to hepatic protein and lipid was examined in association with the subsequent development of hepatic necrosis in the guinea pig. Oxidative halothane biotransformation was inhibited by the use of deuterated halothane, whereas reductive metabolism was enhanced by low inspired oxygen concentrations. Male outbred Hartley guinea pigs (n = 8) were exposed to either 1% (v/v) halothane or deuterated halothane--with a fractional inspired O2 concentration (FIO2) of 0.40 or 0.10--for 4 h. Livers removed from half of the animals immediately after anesthesia were evaluated for organic fluorine bound to protein and lipid. The remaining animals were evaluated for a hepatotoxic response up to 96 h after exposure. Only guinea pigs that received 1% halothane at an FIO2 of 0.40 had centrilobular necrosis develop with significantly increased plasma alanine aminotransferase activities. All other treatment conditions significantly reduced oxidative halothane biotransformation, as indicated by decreased plasma trifluoroacetic acid concentrations. These reductions were associated with a significant decrease in organic fluorine bound to hepatic proteins. An FIO2 of 0.10 during halothane anesthesia significantly enhanced reductive biotransformation, as indicated by plasma fluoride ion concentrations. This was associated with a significant increase in organic fluoride bound to hepatic lipids. Centrilobular necrosis did not develop under these conditions. Thus, covalent binding to subcellular proteins by the trifluoroacetyl acid chloride intermediate generated by oxidative halothane biotransformation is implicated as a mechanism of centrilobular necrosis in guinea pigs. Binding to lipids by reductive pathway generated free radicals does not appear to be involved in production of the lesion.

Isoniazid potentiation of a guinea pig model of halothane-associated hepatotoxicity.

Isoniazid (INH) is a selective inducer of cytochrome P-450 isozymes that are involved in the biotransformation of organohalogen anesthetics. It has been used to produce a rat model of halothane-associated hepatotoxicity that was linked to enhanced oxidative biotransformation of the anesthetic. Guinea pigs were pretreated with INH in order to potentiate halothane-induced hepatic necrosis and to study the oxidative pathway as a hepatotoxic mechanism in this species. The animals received either 12.5, 25.0 or 50.0 mg kg-1 INH i.p. for 7 days. Following halothane exposure, there were dose-dependent increases in plasma levels of the oxidative halothane metabolite, trifluoroacetic acid. These increases were associated with increases in 48 h plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. When combined with halothane exposure, the two higher doses of INH killed the animals before planned termination. These deaths were not attributable to hepatic failure. Dividing the 25 mg kg-1 INH dose into twice daily injections of 12.5 mg kg-1 reduced deaths. INH pretreatment control animals exhibited occasional non-dose-dependent increases in ALT as well as the occurrence of fatty vacuolization of hepatocytes at the highest dose. Even though INH pretreatment enhanced oxidative halothane biotransformation and subsequent hepatotoxicity, sensitivity of guinea pigs to the deleterious actions of INH would contraindicate its use as a cytochrome P-450 induction agent.

Age and gender influence halothane-associated hepatotoxicity in strain 13 guinea pigs.

The factors of age and gender, which have been linked to development of fulminant halothane hepatitis in humans, were evaluated in a guinea pig model of acute halothane-associated hepatotoxicity. Since nitrous oxide is commonly coadministered with halothane and has been shown to exacerbate halothane-associated liver injury in rats; this combination of anesthetics was also evaluated in guinea pigs. Male and female strain 13 guinea pigs (300-1000 g) were exposed to 1% v/v halothane and 39% O2 for 4 h with a balance of either 60% N2 or 60% N2O. Both animal age, as determined by body weight, and gender proved to be factors in the model with older (approximately 6.2 +/- 1.0 month) guinea pigs of both sexes, demonstrating significantly greater elevations in plasma ALT and a greater incidence of centilobular necrosis versus younger (approximately 3.1 +/- 0.6 month) animals. Older females showed a greater hepatotoxic response than older males. There were no significant differences in halothane plasma metabolite levels between older and younger animals of either gender. The addition of nitrous oxide affected neither plasma concentrations of halothane metabolites nor the degree of resultant hepatic injury. Older (approximately 5-6 month) male guinea pigs, from a strain (inbred Hartley) previously shown to be resistant to the halothane lesion, did not develop centrilobular necrosis following halothane exposure even though they generated plasma metabolite concentrations equivalent to those generated by strain 13 animals. The lack of differences in the biotransformation of halothane between groups indicates that other intrinsic factors must be involved in the observed variations in susceptibility to hepatic injury.

The role of oxidative biotransformation of halothane in the guinea pig model of halothane-associated hepatotoxicity.

The role of the oxidative pathway of halothane biotransformation in mediating the hepatotoxicity of halothane in the guinea pig was examined by utilizing the deuterated form of halothane (d-halothane), which is resistant to oxidative metabolism. Male outbred Hartley guinea pigs were exposed to either 1% v/v halothane or d-halothane, FIO2 = 0.21, for 4 h. Significant reductions in both oxidative and overall halothane biotransformation were observed with the use of d-halothane as indicated by decreased plasma levels of trifluoroacetic acid and bromide ion, respectively, immediately following exposure. Plasma fluoride ion, indicative of the reductive metabolism of halothane, was significantly increased with the use of d-halothane. These changes in metabolism were accompanied by a reduced hepatotoxic response as indicated by significantly decreased plasma ALT levels 24-96 h following exposure and a significantly lesser incidence of centrilobular necrosis. Thus, the oxidative biotransformation of halothane is implicated as a mechanism of injury in guinea pigs.

Continuous-wave self-pumped optical phase conjugation in atomic sodium vapor.

Self-pumped optical phase conjugation has been demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge in a resonant atomic system. This process was implemented by using a single cw pump beam to excite a sodium-vapor oscillator. The counterpropagating optical fields inside this oscillator then combine with the pump beam in an internal fourwave-mixing interaction to yield the phase conjugate of the incident (pump) beam.