BACKGROUND Anesthetics, including isoflurane and nitrous oxide, an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of the glutamate receptor, have been demonstrated to induce apoptotic neurodegeneration when administered during neurodevelopment. Xenon, also an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, not only lacks the characteristic toxicity produced by other N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists, but also ...

We have studied the effects of nitrous oxide on cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and intracranial pressure (ICP) during isoflurane-induced hypotension in 10 pigs. CBF was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry, CBFV in the right middle cerebral artery was calculated using Doppler ultrasound and ICP was measured using an extradural ICP monitor. Each animal was studi...

Prolonged exposure to volatile anesthetics, such as isoflurane and sevoflurane, causes neurodegeneration in the developing animal brains. Recent studies showed that dexmedetomidine, a selective α2-adrenergic agonist, reduced isoflurane-induced cognitive impairment and neuroapoptosis. However, the mechanisms for the effect are not completely clear. Thus, we investigated whether exposure to isofl...

BACKGROUND Myocardial protection by volatile anesthetics involves activation of cardiac adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels. The authors have previously shown that isoflurane enhances sensitivity of the sarcolemmal K(ATP) channel to the opener, pinacidil. Because reactive oxygen species seem to be mediators in anesthetic preconditioning, the authors investigated whether...

Increasing evidence indicates that caspase activation and apoptosis are associated with a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. We reported that anesthetic isoflurane can induce apoptosis, alter processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), and increase amyloid-beta protein (Abeta) generation. However, the mechanism by which isoflurane induces apoptosis is ...

Background: The authors previously reported that the isoflurane-caused reduction of the carbachol-evoked cytoplasmic Ca transient increase ([Ca ]cyt) was eliminated by K or caffeine-pretreatment. In this study the authors investigated whether the isoflurane-sensitive component of the carbacholevoked [Ca ]cyt transient involved Ca 2 influx through the plasma membrane. Methods: Perfused attached ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of propofol, on isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) and cardiovascular function in mechanically ventilated goats. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, randomized, crossover experimental study. ANIMALS Six goats, three does and three wethers. METHODS General anaesthesia was induced with isoflurane in oxygen. Following endotracheal intubation, anaesthesia ...

BACKGROUND Although potassium channels are thought to be responsible for the initiation of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), their role in the HPV-inhibitory effect of volatile anesthetics is unclear. The current study tested if the HPV-inhibitory effect of isoflurane and sevoflurane can be affected by changing the potassium-channel opening status with specific potassium-channel inhibit...

Isoflurane is a preferred anesthetic, due to its properties that allow a precise concentration to be delivered continually during in vivo experimentation. The major mechanism of action of isoflurane is modulation of the γ-amino butyric acid (GABA(A)) receptor-chloride channel, mediating inhibitory synaptic transmission. Animal studies have shown that isoflurane does not cause cell death, but it...