General anesthetics cause mitochondrial dysfunction and reduction of intracellular ATP levels.

General anesthetics are indispensable for effective clinical care. Although, the mechanism of action of general anesthetics remains controversial, lipid bilayers and proteins have been discussed as their targets. In this study, we focused on the relationship between cellular ATP levels and general anesthetics. The ATP levels of nematodes and cultured mammalian cells were decreased by exposure to three general anesthetics: isoflurane, pentobarbital, and 1-phenoxy-2-propanol. Furthermore, these general anesthetics abolished mitochondrial membrane potential, resulting in the inhibition of mitochondrial ATP synthesis. These results suggest that the observed decrease of cellular ATP level is a common phenomenon of general anesthetics.