To ascertain whether isoflurane produces a peripheral splanchnic sympathectomy as compared to fentanyl or pentobarbital anesthesia, 12 mongrel dogs (30-45 kg) were allocated randomly to one of three anesthetic test groups, tracheally intubated, surgically prepared, and subjected to unilateral electrical stimulation of the greater splanchnic nerve. Anesthetically, Group 1 animals (n = 4) received pentobarbital, Group 2 animals (n = 4) were administered fentanyl, and Group 3 animals (n = 4) received isoflurane. Stimulation continued for 90 min. Each second of stimulation consisted of 20 stimuli of 0.5 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration duration and 5 V intensity, delivered during a 0.2-s interval, followed by an 0.8-s pause. To assess splanchnic sympathetic responses, mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, pulmonary artery diastolic, cardiac output, adrenal blood flow, adrenal and arterial norepinephrine (N) and epinephrine (E) were obtained before and at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 min during stimulation. In Group 1 animals (pentobarbital), electrical stimulation elicited marked increases in mean arterial blood pressure, pulmonary artery diastolic, and cardiac output (P < 0.001). Examination of the adrenal effluent, which was exteriorized from the animal during the protocol, revealed that adrenal blood flow, adrenal vein N and E concentrations dramatically increased (P < 0.0001). Arterial N and E concentrations remained unchanged. Results of Group 2 animals (fentanyl) were similar to those of Group 1; mean arterial blood pressure, pulmonary artery diastolic, and cardiac output increased (P < 0.005). Adrenal blood flow, adrenal vein N and E increased dramatically (P < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)