Contact: Chad Boutin
chad.boutin@nist.gov
301-975-4261
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

NIST Findings Awaken Age-Old Anesthesia Question

Caption: Different lipid molecules in the cell membrane separate out into an ordered region (red) and surrounding disordered regions (blue). Inhalation anesthetic molecules such as halothane cause these lipid regions to mix, potentially affecting the function of ion channel proteins found embedded in the membrane.

Credit: Weinrich/NIH

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Related news release: NIST findings awaken age-old anesthesia question