The most important development in studies of the metabolic effects of anes- thetics has been the recent demonstration that anesthetics may alter the rate of transport of metabolites across biologic membranes. The membranes affected include cell membranes as well as mitochondrial membranes. Inhalation anesthe- tics generally have little effect on glycolysis but may sigrllficantly alter oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial oxygen consumption. The direct effects of anesthetics on cell metabolism may be overshadowed in vitro by secondary effects anesthetics exert on endocrine balance,...