Effects of general anesthetics on synaptic transmission and plasticity.

TitleEffects of general anesthetics on synaptic transmission and plasticity.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsPlatholi J, Hemmings HC
JournalCurr Neuropharmacol
Date Published2021 Aug 02
ISSN1875-6190
Abstract

General anesthetics depress excitatory and/or enhance inhibitory synaptic transmission principally by modulating the function of glutamatergic or GABAergic synapses, respectively, with relative anesthetic agent-specific mechanisms. Synaptic signaling proteins, including ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels, are targeted by general anesthetics to modulate various synaptic mechanisms including presynaptic neurotransmitter release, postsynaptic receptor signaling, and dendritic spine dynamics to produce their characteristic acute neurophysiological effects. As synaptic structure and plasticity mediate higher-order functions such as learning and memory, long-term synaptic dysfunction following anesthesia may lead to undesirable neurocognitive consequences depending on specific anesthetic agent and the vulnerability of population. Here we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms of transient and persistent general anesthetic alterations of synaptic transmission and plasticity.

DOI10.2174/1570159X19666210803105232
Alternate JournalCurr Neuropharmacol
PubMed ID34344292