Korean J Anesthesiol.  2003 May;44(5):701-708. 10.4097/kjae.2003.44.5.701.

Spinal Antinociceptive Mechanism of Isoflurane and Enflurane via the GABAA Receptor in Rats

• Choi DK
• Kim YK
• Ham KD
• Hwang JH

• KMID: 1759990
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2003.44.5.701

Abstract

Background: Several studies have suggested that the spinal cord may be an important site of anesthetic action and have established that general anesthetics potentiate the effects of GABA at the GABAA receptor. It was, therefore, hypothesized that the suppression of nocifensive movements during anesthesia is due to an enhancement of GABAA receptor-mediated transmission. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine behaviorally whether intrathecal GABA, glycine, or opioid receptor antagonists may change the anesthetic effect of isoflurane and enflurane.
Methods
The minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane and enflurane was determined in Sprague-Dawley rats, by the tail-clamp technique. First, MAC was determined and then concentration of each inhalation agent was increased by 0.2% from the sub-MAC level. Moving latencies were observed after the intrathecal administration of each receptor antagonist. Rectal temperature was measured and maintained at a steady level during the experiment.
Results
The spinal antinociceptive effects of isoflurane and enflurane were significantly reversed by the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline and picrotoxin (P < 0.05). The rectal temperature was well maintained within the range of 37-39 degrees C.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that the general anesthesia induced by isoflurane and enflurane, which are similar in terms of their action mechanism, is likely to be related to the spinal GABAA receptor system.

Keyword

Antagonism; enflurane; GABAA receptor; isoflurane; MAC; spinal cord

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Anesthesia, General
Anesthetics
Anesthetics, General
Animals
Bicuculline
Enflurane*
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Glycine
Inhalation
Isoflurane*
Picrotoxin
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Opioid
Spinal Cord
Anesthetics
Anesthetics, General
Bicuculline
Enflurane
Glycine
Isoflurane
Picrotoxin
Receptors, Opioid
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid