Expression and distribution of c-fos oncogene within central nervous system of the rat following halothane anesthesia

Objective: To study the distribution of c fos oncogene expression within central nervous system (CNS) of the rat during halothane anesthesia. Methods: c-fos oncogene immunohistochemical technique (ABC method) was employed. Results: When halothane concentration was 0.75%,1.5%or2.0%, most of the Fos-like immunore- active neurons (FLNs) appeared in telencephalon, diencephalon and brain stem, including cerebral cortex, amygaloid nucleus, accumbens nucleus, lateral keptal nucleus. bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, field CA1 of Ammon's horn, islands of Calleja, paraventricular thalamic nucleus, central medial thalamic nucleus, reuniens thalamic nucleus, rhomboid thalamic nucleus. ventral posterolateral thalamic nucleus, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus(ventral part). periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, median preoptic nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, suprachiasmatic nucleus. medial and lateral habenular nucleus. midbrain periaqueductal gray and Edinger-Westphal nucleus.In the present stude. we have also found that the number of FLN registered stable increase along with the increaseof the concentration of halothane. Conclusion: It has been indicated that FLNs participate in the process ofhalothane anesthesia. which should necessitate and pave the way for a further study of the patterns of linkage andthe mechanism of interaction between functional nuclei.