Nitrous oxide inactivates methionine synthetase in human liver.

Activity of methionine synthetase was measured in liver biopsies of seven patients who had received 50% to 70% nitrous oxide supplemented by a combination of a narcotic and/or barbiturate with or without a volatile anesthetic, and from seven patients who were anesthetized without nitrous oxide (control group). Methionine synthetase activity (+/- SE) averaged 219 +/- 28 nmol of methionine per hour per gran of liver in patients given nitrous oxide, and 414 +/- 29 in control patients. Inactivation of methionine synthetase progressively increased as the product of the concentration of nitrous oxide and the exposure time increased. These results in humans are similar to those in animals and suggest that inactivation of methionine synthetase may play a role in the development of the pathologic effects seen in patients and medical personnel after exposure to nitrous oxide.