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How does xenon produce anaesthesia?

Author

Listed:
  • N. P. Franks

    (Biophysics Section, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine)

  • R. Dickinson

    (Biophysics Section, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine)

  • S. L. M. de Sousa

    (Biophysics Section, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine)

  • A. C. Hall

    (Biophysics Section, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine)

  • W. R. Lieb

    (Biophysics Section, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine)

Abstract

Since the discovery that the gas xenon can produce general anaesthesia1 without causing undesirable side effects, we have remained surprisingly ignorant of the molecular mechanisms underlying this clinical activity of an ‘inert’ gas. Although most general anaesthetics enhance the activity of inhibitory GABAA (γ-aminobutyric acid type-A) receptors2,3, we find that the effects of xenon on these receptors are negligible. Instead, xenon potently inhibits the excitatory NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor channels, which may account for many of xenon's attractive pharmacological properties.

Suggested Citation

  • N. P. Franks & R. Dickinson & S. L. M. de Sousa & A. C. Hall & W. R. Lieb, 1998. "How does xenon produce anaesthesia?," Nature, Nature, vol. 396(6709), pages 324-324, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:396:y:1998:i:6709:d:10.1038_24525
    DOI: 10.1038/24525
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    Cited by:

    1. John Dingley & Satomi Okano & Richard Lee-Kelland & Emma Scull-Brown & Marianne Thoresen & Ela Chakkarapani, 2020. "Closed circuit xenon delivery for 72h in neonatal piglets following hypoxic insult using an ambient pressure automated control system: Development, technical evaluation and pulmonary effects," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, January.

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