[Is fluidization of the phospholipid bilayer by general anesthetics a reason for general anesthesia?]

Abstract

It was found that chlorpromazine and pipolfene potentiating general anaesthesia increase viscosity of phospholipid membrane in the region of polar headgroups and in the hydrophobic area near glycerol sceleton. These results (independently of potentiating mechanism) confuse a mechanism of anaesthetics action as increased fluidity of membrane phospholipids.