Low susceptibility to inert gases and pressure symptoms  in TREK-1-deficient mice.
Nervous disorders may occur after an organism is saturated with inert gases, which may alter the lipid bilayer structure, according to their liposolubility coefficient. Increase in the nitrogen partial pressure induces a neurological syndrome called 'nitrogen narcosis'. By contrast, high pressures of helium induce epilepsy, an high-pressure nervous syndrome symptom. On the basis of an analogy with anaesthetic mechanisms, we used TREK-1 knockout mice, earlier described to volatile the anaesthetics resistance. These mice had a higher threshold of resistance to the narcotic effects of nitrogen and to the death after recurrent epileptic seizure induced by high pressure. TREK-1 channels seem to play a key role in modulating the anaesthetic potential of inert gases and in neuroprotection.
Vallée
Nicolas
N
Institut de Médecine Navale du Service de Santé des Armées, Laboratoire de Recherches Marines et Subaquatiques, UMR-MD2 PPCOE, BP 610, Toulon Armées, France. n.vallee@imnssa.net
Rostain
Jean-Claude
JC
Risso
Jean-Jacques
JJ
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006371:Helium / Q000633:toxicity; D006610:High Pressure Neurological Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics*; D007222:Inert Gas Narcosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000633:toxicity; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain / Q000235:genetics*; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain; C103742:potassium channel protein TREK-1; D006371:Helium; D009584:Nitrogen