Inhibitory action of sensory transmission
by inhalational anesthetics in the spinal cord
by
Yamauchi M, Omote K, Namiki A, Collins JG.
Department of Anesthesiology,
Yale University School of Medicine,
06520-8051, USA.
Masui. 2003 Mar;52(3):240-50.

ABSTRACT

This review article focuses on the suppression of sensory transmission by inhalational anesthetics at the spinal cord level. Volatile anesthetics (e.g. halothane and isoflurane) suppress neuronal responses evoked by both noxious and non-noxious stimuli. This suppression is mediated largely by activation of GABAA and glycine receptors systems in the spinal dorsal horn. Depression of spinal glutamate receptor systems is also probably involved. The analgesic action of nitrous oxide is produced by activation of supra-spinal descending inhibitory systems, not by direct action on the spinal cord. Activation of the descending inhibitory systems by nitrous oxide causes release of noradrenaline in the spinal dorsal horn, and activates alpha 2 adrenergic receptor systems, resulting in depression of neuronal responses evoked by noxious stimuli. GABAA and glycine receptor systems in the spinal dorsal horn are also important components of nitrous oxide anesthesia in depressing neuronal responses evoked by non-noxious stimuli. Although excitation or inhibition of GABAA, glycine, alpha 2 adrenergic and glutamate receptors systems is an important action of inhalational anesthetics, influence of inhalational anesthetics on interactions among these receptor systems has yet to be studied.

People
Glycine
GABA(A)
Glutamate
Halothane
Isoflurane
Anaesthesia
Noradrenaline
Adverse effects
Obstetric anaesthesia
Molecular mechanisms
Inhalational techniques
Anaesthesia and anaesthetics
Anaesthesia: rivalries and discoveries
Consciousness, anaesthesia and anaesthetics
August Bier, the father of spinal anaesthesia

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