This study has examined whether adverse halothane effects on liver-cell energy metabolism are influenced by the availability of alternate substrates for energy-generating reactions. Halogenated volatile anesthetics affect both energy supply and energy demand in tissues, and cellular energy deficits have been implicated in anesthetic hepatotoxicity. Using hepatocytes isolated from fed rats either pretreated with phenobarbital or not treated (+PB or -PB cells, respectively), we studied the cellular energetic effects of providing fatty acid (oleic acid) along with glucose as substrate(s) for energy metabolism, while exposing the cells to 0%-2% halothane. In -PB cells incubated with glucose alone, there were halothane dose-related decreases in the oxygen (O2) consumption rate (VO2) and in the balance between adenosine triphosphate (ATP) supply and demand (ATP/ADP ratio), but no effect on lactate metabolism (lactate consumption or production) over the 10-min incubation period. Adding oleate along with glucose (a) raised VO2 but lowered ATP/ADP in the absence of halothane; (b) eliminated the decreases in VO2 and ATP/ADP seen when halothane was introduced; and (c) increased lactate consumption in both the presence and absence of halothane. In +PB cells, VO2 was higher, ATP/ADP lower, and lactate consumption also lower than in -PB cells under comparable conditions. Halothane or oleate effects, or both, on energy metabolism were thus qualitatively similar in +PB and -PB cells, except that in +PB cells incubated without oleate, lactate formation developed as halothane was increased from 0% to 2%, reflecting activation of glycolysis due to insufficient mitochondrial ATP production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)