Anesthetics Mechanisms: A Review of Putative Target Proteins at the Cellular and Molecular Level.

Despite widespread clinical use of anesthetics, the exact mechanisms of anesthetic action are unclear. In terms of physiological action, a broad mechanism of general anesthesia including perturbations of neurotransmission has been suggested. However, the mechanism of anesthetic action at the molecular level is less clear.

Cold exposure lowers energy expenditure at the cellular level.

Mitochondrial function is intimately involved in various metabolic processes and is therefore essential to maintain cell viability. Of particular importance is the fact that mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm ) is coupled with oxidative phosphorylation to drive adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. We have examined the effects of cold temperature stress on ΔΨm and the role of cold temperature receptor expression on ΔΨm .