1988 Volume 28 Issue 5 Pages 240-245
The up-to-date studies of the molecular mechanism of the anesthesia are reviewed on the emphasis of the non-specific binding of the anesthetics on the lipid membranes. The anesthetic potency for various anesthetics is inversely proportional to the solubility to the olive oil. This fact is related to the depression of the phase transition temperature of lipid membranes caused by varius anesthetics. The effect of higher alcohols upon the phasetransition of lipid membranes is studied and the result is related to the disappearance of the anesthetic potency.
