Abstract
We examined the effect of propofol and thiopental, intravenous anesthetics, on the hyperpolarization-activated inward current (I(H)), whose functional role on the neuronal activity has been evaluated. Whole-cell recordings of I(H) evoked by hyperpolarizing step pulses were taken from hippocampal CA1 neurons in rat brain slices. Propofol reduced I(H) current in a dose-dependent manner. However, thiopental had no significant effect on the activation of I(H). According to the functional role of I(H), the suppression of I(H) should result in a reduction of neuronal activity. We suggest that the effectiveness of propofol as an anticonvulsant or an antiemetic is associated with the blockade of the I(H) channel.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Anesthetics, Intravenous / metabolism*
-
Animals
-
Cell Membrane / drug effects
-
Cell Membrane / physiology
-
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
-
Hippocampus / cytology
-
Hippocampus / drug effects*
-
Hippocampus / metabolism
-
Ion Channels / drug effects*
-
Ion Channels / metabolism
-
Membrane Potentials / drug effects
-
Membrane Potentials / physiology
-
Neural Inhibition / drug effects*
-
Neural Inhibition / physiology
-
Neurons / drug effects*
-
Neurons / metabolism
-
Organ Culture Techniques
-
Patch-Clamp Techniques
-
Pharmacokinetics
-
Propofol / metabolism*
-
Rats
-
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
-
Receptors, GABA-A / drug effects*
-
Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism
-
Thiopental / pharmacokinetics
Substances
-
Anesthetics, Intravenous
-
Ion Channels
-
Receptors, GABA-A
-
Thiopental
-
Propofol