JOURNAL HOME CME HOME THIS MONTH PAST ISSUES ETOC COLLECTIONS AUTHORS REVIEWERS EDITORIAL BOARD FEEDBACK RSS HELP
		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (14) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Eger, E. I Articles by Sonner, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Eger, E. I, II Articles by Sonner, J. M. Related Collections Pharmacology

---

ANESTHETIC PHARMACOLOGY

Acetylcholine Receptors Do Not Mediate the Immobilization Produced by Inhaled Anesthetics

Edmond I Eger, II, MD^*, Yi Zhang, MD^*, Michael Laster, DVM^*, Pamela Flood, MD, Joan J. Kendig, PhD, and James M. Sonner, MD^*

*Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco; Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University, New York; and Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, California

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Edmond I Eger II, MD, Department of Anesthesia, S-455, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0464. Address e-mail to egere@ anesthesia.ucsf.edu.

Acetylcholine receptors transmit excitatory impulses, are broadly distributed throughout the central nervous system, and are particularly sensitive to the depressant effects of inhaled anesthetics. Thus these receptors are potential mediators of the immobility produced by inhaled anesthetics. We tested this potential in rats by giving intraperitoneal atropine, scopolamine, and mecamylamine to block muscarinic (atropine and scopolamine) and neuronal nicotinic (mecamylamine) acetylcholine receptors. Block with scopolamine (up to 100 mg/kg), atropine (10 mg/kg), mecamylamine (up to 4 mg/kg), or atropine (10 mg/kg) plus mecamylamine (up to 4 mg/kg) did not significantly decrease the isoflurane concentration required to suppress movement to noxious stimulation (minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration). We also gave atropine intrathecally, finding that the infusions that did not cause permanent paralysis produced slight or no decreases in the minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration. We conclude that acetylcholine receptors do not seem to play a role as mediators of immobilization by inhaled anesthetics.

IMPLICATIONS: Inhaled anesthetics produce two crucial effects: amnesia and immobility in the face of noxious stimulation. Block of muscarinic and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in rats does not significantly decrease the isoflurane concentration required to suppress movement to stimulation. Thus, acetylcholine receptors do not seem to play a major role as mediators of the immobilization produced by inhaled anesthetics. Their capacity to mediate other effects of inhaled anesthetics (e.g., amnesia) remains to be tested.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Zhang, M. J. Laster, E. I. Eger II, M. Sharma, and J. M. Sonner Blockade of Acetylcholine Receptors Does Not Change the Dose of Etomidate Required to Produce Immobility in Rats Anesth. Analg., April 1, 2007; 104(4): 850 - 852. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Scott, M. Wood, and P. Flood The pronociceptive effect of ondansetron in the setting of p-glycoprotein inhibition. Anesth. Analg., September 1, 2006; 103(3): 742 - 746. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. O. Udesky, N. Z. Spence, R. Achiel, C. Lee, and P. Flood The Role of Nicotinic Inhibition in Ketamine-Induced Behavior Anesth. Analg., August 1, 2005; 101(2): 407 - 411. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Shumilla, S. M. Sweitzer, E. I Eger II, M. J. Laster, and J. J. Kendig Inhibition of Spinal Protein Kinase C-{epsilon} or -{gamma} Isozymes Does Not Affect Halothane Minimum Alveolar Anesthetic Concentration in Rats Anesth. Analg., July 1, 2004; 99(1): 82 - 84. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Nagele, L. B. Metz, and C. M. Crowder Nitrous oxide (N2O) requires the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor for its action in Caenorhabditis elegans PNAS, June 8, 2004; 101(23): 8791 - 8796. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Sonner, J. F. Antognini, R. C. Dutton, P. Flood, A. T. Gray, R. A. Harris, G. E. Homanics, J. Kendig, B. Orser, D. E. Raines, et al. Inhaled Anesthetics and Immobility: Mechanisms, Mysteries, and Minimum Alveolar Anesthetic Concentration Anesth. Analg., September 1, 2003; 97(3): 718 - 740. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Shiraishi, K. Minami, I. Shibuya, Y. Uezono, J. Ogata, T. Okamoto, O. Murasaki, M. Kaibara, Y. Ueta, and A. Shigematsu The Inhibitory Effects of Alphaxalone on M1 and M3 Muscarinic Receptors Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes Anesth. Analg., August 1, 2003; 97(2): 449 - 455. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Zhang, M. J. Laster, K. Hara, R. A. Harris, E. I. Eger II, C. R. Stabernack, and J. M. Sonner Glycine Receptors Mediate Part of the Immobility Produced by Inhaled Anesthetics Anesth. Analg., January 1, 2003; 96(1): 97 - 101. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M. Rada, E. C. Tharakan, and P. Flood Volatile Anesthetics Reduce Agonist Affinity at Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Brain Anesth. Analg., January 1, 2003; 96(1): 108 - 111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. E. Wong, J. M. Sonner, and J. J. Kendig Acetylcholine Receptors Do Not Mediate Isoflurane's Actions on Spinal Cord In Vitro Anesth. Analg., June 1, 2002; 94(6): 1495 - 1499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Anesthesia & Analgesia® is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society® by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press®. Copyright 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society. Online ISSN: 1526-7598   Print ISSN: 0003-2999