Emerging molecular mechanisms of general anesthetic action.

TitleEmerging molecular mechanisms of general anesthetic action.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsHemmings HC, Akabas MH, Goldstein PA, Trudell JR, Orser BA, Harrison NL
JournalTrends Pharmacol Sci
Volume26
Issue10
Pagination503-10
Date Published2005 Oct
ISSN0165-6147
KeywordsAnesthesia, General, Anesthetics, Animals, Humans, Ion Channels, Ligands, Receptors, GABA, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
Abstract

General anesthetics are essential to modern medicine, and yet a detailed understanding of their mechanisms of action is lacking. General anesthetics were once believed to be "drugs without receptors" but this view has been largely abandoned. During the past decade significant progress in our understanding of the mechanisms of general anesthetic action at the molecular, cellular and neural systems levels has been made. Different molecular targets in various regions of the nervous system are involved in the multiple components of anesthetic action, and these targets can vary between specific anesthetics. Neurotransmitter-gated ion channels, particularly receptors for GABA and glutamate, are modulated by most anesthetics, at both synaptic and extrasynaptic sites, and additional ion channels and receptors are also being recognized as important targets for general anesthetics. In this article, these developments, which have important implications for the development of more-selective anesthetics, are reviewed in the context of recent advances in ion channel structure and function.

DOI10.1016/j.tips.2005.08.006
Alternate JournalTrends Pharmacol. Sci.
PubMed ID16126282
Grant ListGM 61925 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States