Evaluation of the mutagenic potential of enflurane and isoflurane by sister chromatid exchange.

Chinese hamster lung cells were exposed to varying doses of enflurane and isoflurane mixed with oxygen, 5% carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Anesthetic concentrations varied between 0.5% and 4.0%. Controls were exposed to room air and 5% carbon dioxide. Following culturing and preparation, the number of sister chromatid exchanges were counted for each concentration. No significant difference occurred between the control and any of the drug exposed cultures. There was no correlation in the number of exchanges with the varying drug concentrations. Enflurane and isoflurane do not appear to be mutagenic under these conditions.