The effect of anaesthetics on the concentration of creatine phosphate, adenosine triphosphate and lactate in brain and skeletal muscle of the rat

Rats were anaesthetized with ten anaesthetics. Ketamine and enflurane gave the lowest concentration of creatine phosphate and ATP and the highest of lactate in brain, while giving the highest concentration of the high-energy phosphates and the lowest of lactate in skeletal muscle. In general, intraperitoneally-administered anaesthetics gave higher concentrations of creatine phosphate and ATP and lower concentrations of lactate in brain than did the inhalant anaesthetics. The most rapid induction of anaesthesia was achieved with halothane and enflurane, while ketamine gave variable induction times and poor analgesia. Halathane stimulated glycolysis and lowered the concentrations of high-energy phosphates in skeletal muscle.