Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid-Mediated Neurotransmission Inhibition in the Pontine Reticular Formation: A Potential Mechanism of Propofol Anesthesia
Journal Title: Science Insights - Year 2015, Vol 13, Issue 2
Abstract
Study for underlying anesthetic mechanisms is the key point of general anesthesia. Propofol is a representative of general anesthetics. Many general anesthetics are thought to produce a loss of wakefulness, in part, by enhancing Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission. However, GABAergic neurotransmission in the pontine reticular formation promotes wakefulness. We hypothesized that propofol inhibited GABA current and promoted long-term potentiation (LTP) of pontine tissue,which might be the underlying mechanism of propofol anesthesia. In our pre-study investigation, propofol enhanced GABA current in the thalamic neuron and showed as a characteristic of burst discharge, but burst inhibition was observed in the pontine neuron. Hence, the hypothesis of the GABAergic neurotransmission inhibition in the pontine reticular formation might be the mechanistic base of propofol anesthesia, and given an experimental basis of the theory of central nervous inhibition in general anesthesia.
Authors and Affiliations
Fred Wang
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP689587
- DOI 10.15354/si.15.hp008
- Views 181
- Downloads 0
On the Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, also known as dry eye disease, is an inflammatory condition of the ocular surface caused by a pathologic reduction in the aqueous component of the tear film. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca usually...
The Relationship between Virtual Reality Technology and Anxiety State of Parturient Women with Labor Pain
Background: Labor pain is severe physical pain experienced by the parturient. More than 90% of mothers are accompanied by tension-anxiety-pain syndrome during childbirth. Virtual Reality (VR) technology has been widely u...
Insights into Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in the Elderly
Vertigo, the illusion of movement of oneself or one’s surroundings in the absence of actual movement, is a common symptom in older adults and, as such, is commonly regarded as an age-related normal or part of the aging p...
Metabolites from the Gut Microbiota and the Role in the Gut-Brain Axis
The gut microbiota is highly capable of biotransformation, exposing the host to a wide variety of physiologically active compounds. These metabolites participate in signaling between the gastrointestinal tract and the ce...
Philosophical Perspective on the Digital Economy
The digital economy is a new economic era and social form of human society after the industrial revolution and information economy. It creates the free time and free activities needed for human development, provides an e...