RESUMO
Rat liver mitochondria were exposed to various conentrations of halothane,enflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane. Electron transfer rates from NADH and succinate to cytochrome C were measured by scanning dual wavelength spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis of the data suggested that halothane at clinical or higher than clinical concentrations markedly inhibited activities of NADH-Cyt,C reductase.in contrast,no decrease occurred in the activities of NADH dehydrogenase,NADH-coenzyme Q reductase and enzymatical system of succinate chain. Enflurane,isoflurane and sevoflurane had little effect on enzymatical system of mitochondrial electron transfer chain. These data indicate that halothane interfere with utilization of NADH-linked substrate by blocking electon transport from NADH to cytochrome C and it is probable that the locus of action is at Q binding protein(Qpn) or complex of Qpn and ubiquinone.