Solubilization of hexokinase activity by an effect of thiopental on the mitochondrial membrane

Abstract

In thiopental anesthesia of rats cerebral mitochondrial hexokinase activity was solubilized. This solubilization was also observed when the period necessary for the removal of the rat brain was shortened to 15 s by brain blowing. The influence of the drug on the binding of hexokinase activity to mitochondria of brain, liver and neuroblastoma cells was studied in vitro. Solubilization of hexokinase activity was achieved in all systems at therapeutically relevant thiopental concentrations. On the other hand, chlorpromazine as a highly lipophilic drug only solubilized hexokinase activity at concentrations being already lytic to the membrane. Thus, it is concluded that thiopental solubilize hexokinase activity by affecting the mitochondrial membrane, and that this effect is not only dependent on the lipophilic character of a drug.