Understanding anesthesia: making genetic sense
of the absence of senses
by
Humphrey JA, Sedensky MM, Morgan PG.
Department of Genetics,
University Hospitals of Cleveland and
Case Western Reserve University,
Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Hum Mol Genet. 2002 May 15;11(10):1241-9.

ABSTRACT

The discovery of the phenomenon of anesthesia over 150 years ago was a watershed event that revolutionized the practice of medicine. Despite their annual use in millions of patients, the mechanism by which volatile anesthetics produce reversible loss of consciousness remains a mystery. The inherent problems in studying loss of consciousness in humans are legion. However, multiple model organisms are currently being exploited to apply the powerful tools of modern molecular genetics to this question. Mutants in yeast, nematodes, fruit flies and mice have been produced that display abnormalities in their response to volatile anesthetics. Each organism possesses unique advantages and difficulties as a model system, and each reveals different molecules that control its response to anesthetics. Nonetheless, the accumulating body of genetic evidence points to multiple targets for volatile anesthetics. Not only will understanding how volatile anesthetics work yield better and safer anesthetics, but, in addition, these remarkable compounds may ultimately serve as probes to understand the nature of consciousness itself.

People
Anaesthesia
Adverse effects
Obstetric anesthesia
Molecular mechanisms
Inhalational techniques
Anaesthesia: rivalries and discoveries

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