Cited by 319Anesthesia and Sedative AgentsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchAnesthesia and Neurotoxicity Research

Sedation and Anesthesia Mediated by Distinct GABA A Receptor Isoforms

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Reynolds, David S., Rosahl, Thomas W., Cirone, Jennifer, O'Meara, Gillian F., Haythornthwaite, Alison, Newman, Richard J., Myers, Janice, Sur, Cyrille +12 more·2003·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

The specific mechanisms underlying general anesthesia are primarily unknown. The intravenous general anesthetic etomidate acts by potentiating GABA A receptors, with selectivity for β2 and β3 subunit-containing receptors determined by a single asparagine residue. We generated a genetically modified mouse containing an etomidate-insensitive β2 subunit (β2 N265S) to determine the role of β2 and β3 subunits in etomidate-induced anesthesia. Loss of pedal withdrawal reflex and burst suppression in the electroencephalogram were still observed in the mutant mouse, indicating that loss of consciousness can be mediated purely through β3-containing receptors. The sedation produced by subanesthetic doses of etomidate and during recovery from anesthesia was present only in wild-type mice, indicating that the β2 subunit mediates the sedative properties of anesthetics. These findings show that anesthesia and sedation are mediated by distinct GABA A receptor subtypes.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.23-24-08608.2003

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  • GABAA receptors contribute to sedation, hypnosis, hypothermia, and immobility, based on knock-in mice with point mutations that abolish anesthetic binding sites and reduce behavioral effects.

    “Convincing evidence for a contribution of GABAA receptors to important anesthetic actions such as sedation, hypnosis, hypothermia, and immobility have come from experiments on knock-in mice, in which point mutations that abolish anesthetic binding sites also curtail the behavioral effects of several anesthetics [38, 39].”

    From The Biology of General Anesthesia from Paramecium to Primate (2019) · cites this paper as [38]

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Authors
Reynolds, D. S., Rosahl, T. W., Cirone, J., O'Meara, G. F., Haythornthwaite, A., Newman, R. J., Myers, J., Sur, C., Howell, O., Rutter, A. R., Atack, J., Macaulay, A. J., Hadingham, K. L., Hutson, P. H., Belelli, D., Lambert, J. J., Dawson, G. R., McKernan, R., Whiting, P. J., & Wafford, K. A.
Affiliations
University of Dundee (GB)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2003-09-17
Volume
23
Issue
24
Pages
8608-8617
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2140230931
Cited by
318
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 6
FWCI
32.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • PubMed
Funders
  • Directorate for Biological Sciences
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Anesthesia and Sedative Agents
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Anesthesia and Neurotoxicity Research
Keywords
GABAA receptor, etomidate, general anesthesia, sedation, beta2 subunit, beta3 subunit, loss of consciousness, burst suppression, anesthesia recovery
MeSH terms
Anesthetics, Animals, Anticonvulsants, Behavior, Animal, Binding, Competitive, Cell Separation, Consciousness, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Electroencephalography, Etomidate, Hypnotics and Sedatives, Male, Mice, Mutant Strains, Motor Activity, Purkinje Cells, Receptors, GABA-A, Triazoles, Gene Targeting, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic, Protein Isoforms, Recovery of Function, Mice, In Vitro Techniques

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