title: Effect of thiopentone, etomidate and propofol on carotid body chemoreceptor activity in the rabbit and the cat.
abstract: The response of the carotid body chemoreceptors to intracarotid administration of thiopentone, etomidate and propofol was tested in the rabbit and cat. Thiopentone 3-6 mg min-1 and etomidate 300-600 micrograms min-1 were mildly excitatory, shifting the oxygen and carbon dioxide response curves upwards. Propofol 1.5-3.0 mg min-1 was a potent chemodepressant and abolished discharge at PaO2 values greater than 8 kPa. Prolonged infusion of propofol at higher rates (6 mg min-1) abolished the response to hypoxia completely. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to the known ventilatory effects of the three anaesthetics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Kings's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ponte
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sadler
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000502:physiology; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000187:drug effects*; D002415:Cats; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D005045:Etomidate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D015742:Propofol; D011817:Rabbits; D013874:Thiopental / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D010636:Phenols; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D013874:Thiopental; D010100:Oxygen; D015742:Propofol; D005045:Etomidate