title: Inhaled anesthetics and immobility: mechanisms, mysteries, and minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration.
abstract: Studies using molecular modeling, genetic engineering, neurophysiology/pharmacology, and whole animals have advanced our understanding of where and how inhaled anesthetics act to produce immobility (minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration; MAC) by actions on the spinal cord. Numerous ligand- and voltage-gated channels might plausibly mediate MAC, and specific amino acid sites in certain receptors present likely candidates for mediation. However, in vivo studies to date suggest that several channels or receptors may not be mediators (e.g., gamma-aminobutyric acid A, acetylcholine, potassium, 5-hydroxytryptamine-3, opioids, and alpha(2)-adrenergic), whereas other receptors/channels (e.g., glycine, N-methyl-D-aspartate, and sodium) remain credible candidates.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, California; †Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, Davis, California; ‡Columbia University, New York, New York; §University of Texas, Austin, Texas; ∥University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; ¶Stanford University, Palo Alto, California; #University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; **Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and ††Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sonner
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Antognini
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dutton
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Flood
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: R Adron
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Gregg E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Homanics
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kendig
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Orser
authors.forename: Douglas E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Raines
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trudell
authors.forename: Bryce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vissel
authors.forename: Edmond I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Eger
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D007473:Ion Channels