Background: Ketamine is an intravenous anesthetic that acts as a channel blocker on the N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a glutamate receptor subtype. MK-801 is the most potent compound among noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists. Ketamine induces loss of the righting reflex (LORR) in rodents, which is one of the indicators of unconsciousness, whereas high doses of MK-801 produce ataxia, but not LORR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPentobarbital-induced anesthesia is believed to be mediated by enhancement of the inhibitory action of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons in the central nervous system. However, it is unclear whether all components of anesthesia induced by pentobarbital, such as muscle relaxation, unconsciousness, and immobility in response to noxious stimuli, are mediated only through GABAergic neurons. Thus, we examined whether the indirect GABA and glycine receptor agonists gabaculine and sarcosine, respectively, the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist mecamylamine, or the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor channel blocker MK-801 could enhance pentobarbital-induced components of anesthesia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Moebius syndrome is a rare congenital disorder characterized by non-progressive palsy of the abducens (VI) and facial (VII) cranial nerves. Its common features include dysfunctions associated with other cranial nerves, orofacial abnormalities, skeletal muscle hypotonia, and other systemic disorders of differing severities. There are several concerns in the perioperative management of patients with Moebius syndrome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction and the presence of restricted, repetitive behaviors. Additionally, difficulties in sensory processing commonly occur in ASD. Sensory abnormalities include heightened or reduced sensitivity to pain, but the mechanism underlying sensory phenotypes in ASD remain unknown.
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