title: Calcium channels are involved in the hypnotic-anesthetic action of dexmedetomidine in rats.
abstract: Our study examined whether calcium channels are involved in the anesthetic action of dexmedetomidine (100-300 micrograms/kg), a highly selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist. To investigate this, we studied the effects of verapamil (1.25 or 2.5 mg/kg), a calcium channel blocker, and BAY K8644 (0.5 or 1 mg/kg), a calcium channel agonist, on the hypnotic-anesthetic effect of dexmedetomidine in rats. Loss of the righting reflex was used to determine the presence of anesthesia, and its length in minutes was referred to as the duration of hypnosis. Verapamil significantly enhanced the duration of the hypnotic-anesthetic action of dexmedetomidine (P less than 0.05). In contrast, BAY K8644 caused a significantly increased onset of hypnosis (P less than 0.001) and attenuated the anesthetic property of dexmedetomidine. These results suggest that the hypnotic-anesthetic action of dexmedetomidine is influenced by the activation/gating of calcium channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horvàth
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szikszay
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benedek
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D015220:Calcium Channels; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D014700:Verapamil; D020926:Medetomidine