Genetic variability of induction and emergence times for inhalational anaesthetics.
OBJECTIVE
Anaesthetic requirements differ among inbred mouse strains. We tested the genetic influence on induction and arousal times to inhalational anaesthetics in two of these strains.


METHODS
Five male C57BL/6J (B6) and five male C3H/HeJ (C3) mice were each exposed to five different concentrations of nitrous oxide (N2O) at five different levels of halothane. Time to sleep and arousal were assessed. Data were analysed by repeated measures of analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Halothane, N2O and genetic strain, all were significant independent factors on the time to sleep, while only N2O was a significant independent factor on the time to arousal (P = 0.004). B6 mice took significantly longer to fall asleep compared to the C3 mice controlling for halothane and N2O concentrations (F-ratio = 36, P < 0.0001). The effect of N2O on time to arousal was only significant for the B6 strain (F-ratio = 10, P = 0.005), and not for the C3 strain (F-ratio = 0.8, P = 0.38).


CONCLUSIONS
Genetics influences the time to sleep for anaesthetic agents in mice.
Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. sascha.meier@uk-essen.de
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Meier
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Groeben
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Mitzner
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Brown
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D006221:Halothane