Neuroreport
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General anesthetic mechanisms are poorly understood. Anesthetic immobilizing effects occur in the spinal ventral horn. However, a detailed analysis of anesthetic effects on ventral motor networks is lacking. ⋯ Isoflurane abolished pharmacologically-induced versus noxious stimulus-induced motor output at similar concentrations. Propofol abolished pharmacologically-induced fictive locomotion through a γ-aminobutyric acid type A-receptor mechanism. Anesthetic effects on pharmacologically-elicted fictive locomotion appear clinically-relevant, and support a ventral horn immobilizing effect on locomotor rhythm generation.