Is chemiluminescence an index of hepatic lipoperoxidation accompanying chloroform anesthesia?

Hepatic lipoperoxidation by highly reactive metabolites produced during biodegradation of chloroform is believed to cause delayed hepatic necrosis. Chemiluminescence occurs during interaction of these metabolites with a lipid membrane. We have made continuous in vivo measurements of hepatic light output in the phenobarbital-induced rat breathing either air or chloroform vaporized in air. The data permitted direct estimation of the time course of chloroform-induced lipoperoxidation. These potentially toxic events began 15 min after initiation of anesthesia and continued for the duration of the study. Chemiluminescence did not occur with inhalation of isoflurane, an anesthetic undergoing minimal biodegradation.