Mutagenicity and toxicity studies with high pressure nitrous oxide.

The mutagenic and toxic potential of nitrous oxide were assessed in vitro by microbial assay using two histidine dependent strains of Salmonella typhimurium, TA98 and TA100. Bacteria on plates and in liquid suspension in the presence or absence of enzymes prepared from rat liver, were exposed in a pressure chamber to partial pressures of nitrous oxide ranging from 0.5 to 6 atmospheres. Nitrous oxide decreased viability of both strains of bacteria at 4 and 6 atmospheres but was not mutagenic at any pressure tested.

Toxicity and teratogenicity of inhaled anesthetics in Drosophila melanogaster.

The toxic and teratogenic effects of inhaled anesthetics were assessed in an in vivo assay using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Eggs were exposed during development (metamorphosis) to enflurane, isoflurane or halothane at a vapor concentration of 0.1 or 0.2% (v/v), to fluroxene at 0.025 or 0.05% (v/v), or to nitrous oxide at 20 or 40% (v/v). Flies produced in each group were counted and were examined for morphological abnormalities within one day of hatching. All the anesthetics except nitrous oxide produced a dose-dependent increase in the duration of metamorphosis and a decrease in the number of flies. Despite these effects on development, no morphological abnormalities were observed in any fly.

Effect of high helium and hydrostatic pressure on bacterial mutation and growth.

The mutagenic and toxic effect of high helium and hydrostatic pressure were assessed in an in vitro microbial assay using two histidine-dependent strains of Salmonella typhimurium. TA98 and TA100. Bacteria in the presence or absence of mammalian enzyme system were subjected to either 50 or 100 atmospheres absolute (ATA) helium or 300 ATA hydrostatic pressure. The number of revertant colonies, colony forming units and cell growth rates were measured. There was no mutagenic effect of decrease in number of colony forming units at any of the pressures tested. However, a statistically significant decrease in growth rate of exponentially dividing cells was seen at 300 ATA hydrostatic pressure and 100 ATA helium, but not at 50 ATA helium.

Mutagenic activity of vinyl compounds and derived epoxides.

Many vinyl compounds, such as vinyl chloride and some inhalational anesthetics, are known to be mutagens. In the present study, 10 vinyl compounds or derived epoxides, widely used in industry, were assayed in the Salmonella typhimurium/mammalian microsome system. 3 strains of histidine-dependent S. typhimurium, TA1535, TA98 and TA100 were used. Of the 10 compounds, 4 were mutagens. They were 9-vinylanthracene, vinylcarbazole, 3-vinyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane and 3-epoxyethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]-heptane. The study confirmed the overall genotoxicity of vinyl compounds and epoxides and the need to carefully screen them for mutagenic/carcinogenic effects.

Fluroxene mutagenicity.

The commercially available volatile anesthetic fluroxene (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl vinyl ether) which contains the stabilizer N-phenyl-1-napthylamine, was tested for mutagenicity using four strains of S. typhimurium, TA1535, TA1537, TA98 and TA100, and one strain of E. coli, WP2. In addition, purified fluroxene; N-phenyl-1-napthylamine; trifluoroethanol, a major metabolite of fluoroxene; and urine from rats anesthetized with fluroxene were tested. Several procedures were utilized including exposure of bacteria to vapor in desiccators and in liquid suspension. Results indicate that fluroxene, but not its stabilizer, was mutagenic to strains TA1535, TA100 and WP2 only in liquid suspension and only in the presence of a rat-liver enzyme system. Trifluoroethanol and urine from fluroxene-treated rat were not mutagenic to any strain of bacteria. These findings indicate that fluroxene is a promutagen which requires preincubation before it is recognized. Further experiments were performed with enzymes prepared from mouse, hamster and human liver. Fluroxene was mutagenic only in the presence of enzymes prepared from Aroclor 1254 pretreated rodents. Since fluroxene was not mutagenic in the presence of enzymes prepared from three human livers, the significance of these findings to man are unclear.

Effects of subchronic intermittent exposure to nitrous oxide in Swiss Webster mice.

Swiss Webster mice were treated to determine whether the inhalational anesthetic, nitrous oxide (N2O), causes organ toxicity and enhances anesthetic defluorination. Two-hundred and sixteen young adult male and female mice were exposed to room air or to 5,000 (.5%), 50,000 (5%) or 500,000 (50%) N2O for four hours per day, five days per week for periods up to fourteen weeks. Body weight was measured twice weekly throughout the experiment. Liver, kidney, spleen and testis were weighed and examined histologically along with brain, stomach, seminal vesicle, and ovary for evidence of drug induced damage. Blood smears were examined microscopically and complete blood count, differential white cell count, and reticulocyte and platelet counts were performed. In addition, liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and the rates of defluorination of enflurane and methoxyflurane were determined. The maximum tolerated concentration of N2O was approximately 5000,000 ppm. Even at this high dose, there was no evidence of organ damage. Following N2O exposure, neither the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 content nor the rates of anesthetic defluorination were increased; the rate of in vitro inorganic fluoride production was greater for methoxyflurane than for enflurane. Since there was no evidence of specific organ toxicity or of enzyme induction or inhibition, it was concluded that N2O is a comparatively nontoxic inhalational anesthetic under the conditions of this study.

Effects of subchronic intermittent exposure to isoflurane in Swiss Webster mice.

Swiss Webster mice were treated to determine if subchronic intermittent exposure to the inhalation anesthetic isoflurane causes organ toxicity or enhances its own metabolism or that of other anesthetics. One-hundred twenty, four-week-old male and female mice were exposed to compressed air or to 0.02%, 0.1% or 0.5% of isoflurane for four hours per day, five days per week for nine weeks. Body weights among the groups were the same prior to exposure. Overall, there were no significant differences in body weights among exposure groups (ANOVA with day as a repeated measure: females - F = 2.12, P = 0.1085; males - F = 1.80, P = 0.1583). There was, however, a significant interaction of group and days; differences were isolated to the start of exposure (weeks 1 through 3 for females; week 2 for males). At all times, differences remained within 10% of the control body weights. Organ weights (liver, spleen, kidney, testis and uterus), hematocrits, and SGOT levels were similar among exposure groups. Histologic evaluation of organs revealed no anesthetic-related organ toxicity. The concentration of hepatic cytochromes, b5 and P-450, per mg of microsomal protein were similar among exposure groups and between sexes. The rates of hepatic microsomal metabolism (defluorination) of three volatile halogenated ether anesthetics (methoxyflurane, enflurane, and isoflurane) were not different among groups following nine weeks of exposure. Isoflurane exposures of 0.5% or less for four hours per day for five days per week would appear to be the maximum tolerated concentration for any chronic study. Since there was no evidence of organ toxicity or of enhanced or inhibited hepatic microsomal enzyme activity, isoflurane seems to be relatively non-toxic inhalation anesthetic under the conditions of this study.

Expression of mRNA for alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes at the beginning of neurulation in rat embryos.

We recently reported that alpha1-adrenoceptor agonists, administered at the beginning of neurulation (Stage 11a) in rat embryos grown in culture, interfere with normal development of the left/right body axis leading to situs inversus. Despite these pharmacological findings, expression of alpha1-adrenoceptor genes at such an early stage of development has not been demonstrated. In the present study, we examined the expression of mRNAs for cloned alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat embryos at Stage 11a. Timed-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were killed in the morning of gestational day 9 (vaginal plug day = day 0), and the implantation sites were removed. The implantation sites were separated into embryo, ectoplacental cone and decidua, only those at Stage 11a were selected, and these were immediately frozen on dry ice, and subsequently their total RNA was isolated. RNase protection assays were then performed for cloned alpha1a-, alpha 1b- and alpha1d-adrenocepter subtypes using 20-30 mug of total RNA for each hybridization. In all tissues, strong and weak signals were detected for alpha1b- and alpha1a-adrenoceptor subtype mRNAs, respectively. In contrast, a signal for alpha1d mRNA was not detected in any tissues. These results, together with previous pharmacological findings, suggest the existence of alpha1a- and alpha1b-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat embryos at Stage 11a.

A drill-free bone screw for intermaxillary fixation in military casualties.

Drill-free bone screws are a simple and quick method of establishing intermaxillary fixation requiring a minimum amount of specialist training or equipment. These screws offer significant advantages over other methods of intermaxillary fixation and are well suited for use in military casualties.

The diagnosis and management of an expanding post-traumatic soft tissue cyst of the hip and groin.

A post-traumatic cyst is a rare complication of significant soft tissue trauma. It occurs at the junction between the subcutaneous fat and underlying fascia, when a large, subcutaneous haematoma fails to resolve, developing into a chronic, fluid-filled cyst, lined with fibrous tissue. This results in a swelling that persists for years, gradually increasing in size, often without causing significant discomfort to the patient. Clinically and radiologically these swellings may be mistaken for neoplastic lesions. They can be difficult to treat, are refractory to conservative management and have a high rate of recurrence following surgical excision. Careful monitoring and early treatment of persistent postoperative seroma is advocated.

Anticholinergic actions of steroid muscle relaxants.

The chronotropic effects of two new steroid muscle relaxants have been investigated. Each was compared individually with pancuronium bromide, using acetylcholine as an agonist on the isolated perfused rabbit heart. One of the drugs. Organon 6368, was very similar to pancuronium in its degree of antagonism to the bradycardia produced by acetylcholine and may therefore be a useful drug clinically. Dacuronium, on the other hand, would appear to have marked chronotropic effects at dose levels needed for adequate neuromuscular blockade and thus may be less useful.

Hepatotoxicity and metabolism of isoflurane in rats with cirrhosis.

A rat model was used to determine whether isoflurane exacerbates liver dysfunction and whether its metabolism is changed in the presence of cirrhosis. Male Wistar rats were gavaged weekly with carbon tetrachloride until cirrhosis was well advanced. They and control rats without pretreatment with carbon tetrachloride and without cirrhosis were then exposed to 1.45% (1 MAC) isoflurane for 3 hours. Blood and urine samples were taken before, immediately, as well as 4, 24, 48, and 72 hours after anesthesia to measure liver function and isoflurane defluorination. After the last samples had been obtained, the rats were sacrificed and the liver removed for histologic examination and in vitro metabolic studies. Serum levels of SGOT and SGPT and inorganic fluoride production in rats with cirrhosis were similar to those in control rats without cirrhosis. Concentrations of cytochromes b5 and p-450 and specific activities of microsomal defluorinase and several cytosolic enzymes were significantly lower in cirrhotic than in noncirrhotic liver, but their total amounts in whole liver were the same. The results imply that cirrhosis does not increase the risk of acute hepatotoxicity of isoflurane. They also demonstrate that metabolism of isoflurane and perhaps other volatile anesthetics may be unaffected in rats with cirrhosis, even though liver architecture is severely disrupted.

Methionine prevents nitrous oxide-induced teratogenicity in rat embryos grown in culture.

BACKGROUND: Nitrous oxide (N2O)-induced teratogenicity in rats is commonly believed to be due to decreased tetrahydrofolate, which results in decreased DNA synthesis. The role of decreased methionine has been largely ignored as have the sympathomimetic effects of N2O. METHODS: A rat whole-embryo culture system was used to determine whether N2O-induced teratogenicity can be prevented with supplemental methionine or folinic acid and whether N2O-induced situs inversus is mediated by alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation. Embryos were explanted on day 9 of gestation, and those at stage 10b (late primitive streak stage) were cultured with or without N2O and the various chemicals, methionine (25 micrograms.ml-1), folinic acid (5 micrograms.ml-1), phenylephrine (range 0.5-50 microM) and prazosin (10 microM). Embryos in the N2O groups were exposed to a concentration of 75% for the first 24 h of culture. After 50 h of culture, embryos were examined for abnormalities including situs inversus. RESULTS: Treatment with N2O alone resulted in increased incidences of malformations and growth retardation. Methionine, but not folinic acid or prazosin, almost completely prevented N2O-induced malformations and growth retardation. N2O itself did not cause situs inversus but increased the incidence of phenylephrine-induced situs inversus. This additive effect was blocked by prazosin. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that decreased methionine rather than decreased tetrahydrofolate plays the major role in N2O-induced teratogenicity in rats. They also indicate that N2O stimulates the alpha 1-adrenergic pathway in the embryo and thereby increases the incidence of phenylephrine-induced situs inversus.

Microsurgical study on the mechanisms determining sidedness of axial rotation in rat embryos.

Sidedness of left/right asymmetric body structures is strongly biased in most animals by mechanisms that are not well understood. In rat embryos, axial rotation starts at the 9-10 somite stage and is almost completed at the 17-18 somite stage. As a result, the ventrally flexed tail (caudal part of the body) and chorioallantoic placenta on the yolk sac take up their position normally on the right side of the embryo. Because the tail and chorion become connected via the allantois around the time when axial rotation takes place, we hypothesized that the allantois and possibly its connection to the chorion is important in determining sidedness of the tail. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis by surgically removing either the allantois or chorion before axial rotation started. Embryos were explanted at 8 AM on Day 9 of gestation (presomite stage), and either the allantois or chorion was removed using microforceps. Embryos were then cultured in rotating bottles, and sidedness of the tail, chorioallantoic placenta, and bulboventricular loop (heart) was determined after 50 hours (approximately 25-26 somite stage). Removal of the allantois (n = 55) resulted in absence of the umbilical cord and a 49.1% incidence of inverted tail; a chorioallantoic placenta-like structure developed on the yolk sac in the normal position.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mutagenicity of the combination of a volatile anaesthetic and nitrous oxide.

The mutagenic potential of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane in combination with nitrous oxide was investigated using the sex-linked recessive lethal assay in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Male wild-type flies were exposed for 1 h to 1 or 2% volatile anaesthetic with various concentrations of nitrous oxide up to 75%. They were then mated with untreated females of the Basc marker strain. A brooding pattern was used to assess mutagenicity at different germ cell stages. The rate of lethal mutations was assessed in the F2 generation. Halothane produced a dose-dependent increase in the rate of lethal mutations, but the mutagenicity was independent of the presence of nitrous oxide and of the stage of germ cell formation. Neither enflurane nor isoflurane was mutagenic in the presence of nitrous oxide.