The influence of intravenous anaesthetics on the activity of enzymes released from polymorphonuclear leucocytes in vitro.

Background And Objective: Polymorphonuclear leucocytes make a decisive contribution to defence against bacterial infections. In particular, the effects of anaesthetics on non-oxidative bactericidal mechanisms have previously only been superficially examined. Although the influence of anaesthetic agents on oxidative bactericidal activity has been thoroughly examined, our study concentrated on the effect on non-oxidative processes, which appears to have been a neglected field of research.

[The effect of midazolam and flunitrazepam on the liberation of lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase from neutrophil granulocytes in vitro].

Objective: Polymorphonuclear neutrophile leucocytes (PMNL) play an important role in the defence against bacterial infections. It is known that some anaesthetics are able to disturb PMNL functions. We examined the influence of midazolam and flunitrazepam on the activity of the bactericidal enzymes lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase released from PMNL in vitro.