title: Bench-to-bedside review: Molecular pharmacology and clinical use of inert gases in anesthesia and neuroprotection.
abstract: In the past decade there has been a resurgence of interest in the clinical use of inert gases. In the present paper we review the use of inert gases as anesthetics and neuroprotectants, with particular attention to the clinical use of xenon. We discuss recent advances in understanding the molecular pharmacology of xenon and we highlight specific pharmacological targets that may mediate its actions as an anesthetic and neuroprotectant. We summarize recent in vitro and in vivo studies on the actions of helium and the other inert gases, and discuss their potential to be used as neuroprotective agents.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Section, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK. r.dickinson@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Franks
mesh_terms: D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D006371:Helium / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000139:chemically induced; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005741:Noble Gases / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014978:Xenon / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D005741:Noble Gases; D006371:Helium; D014978:Xenon