Halothane actions in the rabbit hippocampus: Correlative neurophysiologic and neurochemical effects

Halothane was found to have suppression effects on hippocampal tetanic and post-tetanic potentiation, even when no suppressive effects were seen with respect to pretetanic control responses. At the same time, halothane stimulated an elevation of cyclic AMP in hippocampal tissue. An initial halothane-related excitatory effect on pyramidal cells was also noted. It is suggested that in the hippocampus, halothane can modulate the potentiation phenomena by altering cyclic AMP concentrations.