Background: The neurobiological mechanisms underlying how general anesthetics render a patient's unconsciousness (hypnosis) remains elusive. The role of the cerebellum in hypnosis induced by general anesthetics is unknown. Gabra6100Q allele Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats have a naturally occurring single nucleotide polymorphism in the GABAA receptor α6 subunit gene that is expressed exclusively in cerebellum granule cells.
Methods: We examined the loss of righting reflex (LORR) induced by isoflurane, and ethanol in Gabra6100Q rats compared with those in wild type (WT) SD rats. We also examined the change of c-Fos expression induced by isoflurane exposure in cerebellum granule cells of both mutant and WT rats.
Results: Gabra6100Q rats are more sensitive than WT rats to the LORR induced by isoflurane and ethanol. Moreover, isoflurane exposure induced a greater reduction in c-Fos expression in cerebellum granule cells of Gabra6100Q rats than WT rats.
Conclusions: Based on these data, we speculate that cerebellum may be involved in the hypnosis induced by some general anesthetics and thus may represent a novel target of general anesthetics.
Keywords: Cerebellum; GABA(A) Receptor a6 subunit; General anesthetics; Loss of consciousness; Loss of righting reflex.
Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.