Anesthesiology
-
Excitatory amino acid receptors are important for both sensory and motor function in the spinal cord. We studied the effects of intrathecal LY293558, a competitive non-N-methyl-D-aspartate excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist, on motor and sensory function in rats to determine whether drugs blocking these receptors could potentially be used as alternative agents to local anesthetics for spinal anesthesia. ⋯ Drugs like LY293558 that block alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA)/kainate receptors may be an alternative to local anesthetics for spinal anesthesia in humans.
-
Volatile anesthetics induce pharmacological preconditioning in cardiac tissue. The purpose of this study was to test whether volatile anesthetics mediate this effect by activation of the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (mitoK(ATP)) or sarcolemmal K(ATP) (sarcK(ATP)) channel in rat ventricular myocytes and to evaluate the signaling pathways involved. ⋯ Using autofluorescence in live cell imaging microscopy and a simulated model of ischemia, the authors present evidence that volatile anesthetics mediate their protection in cardiomyocytes by selectively priming mitoK(ATP) channels through multiple triggering protein kinase C-coupled signaling pathways. These observations provide important new insight into the mechanisms of anesthetic-induced preconditioning.
-
Cytokines have crucial role in the development and maintenance of inflammation and pain in arthritis. Activation of prostaglandin receptor subtype EP(4) suppresses cytokine production in immune cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a novel EP(4) agonist would be able to suppress thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and paw swelling in acute and chronic phases in rat monoarthritic model. ⋯ Intracapsular administration of EP(4) receptor agonist effectively inhibited mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia and inflammatory reactions in acute and chronic monoarthritis. An EP(4) agonist would be a potential strategy for inflammatory pain in arthritis.