Effects of anaesthesia on insulin sensitivity and metabolic parameters in Wistar rats.

We compared the effects of two different anaesthetics, sodium pentobarbital (65 mg/kg) and ketamine (30 mg/kg) plus xylazine (4 mg/kg) (KX) on insulin sensitivity, fasting glycaemia, insulinaemia and free fatty acids (FFA). Four groups of Wistar rats were used: KX group (n=6), pentobarbital group (n=6), high-sucrose diet group (n=6) and the conscious group (n=6). The insulin tolerance test (ITT) was used to measure insulin sensitivity, and metabolic biomarkers were determined using commercial kits.

Modulatory effect of NO on sodium currents in a neuroblastoma cell line: aspects of cell specificity.

Nitric oxide (NO) participates in the regulation of many cell functions in the CNS, including modulation of ion channel function by direct changes in the channel protein structure, modulating permeability or gating kinetics. The mechanisms by which NO donors modulate sodium currents are protein and tissue specific. The present paper concerns sodium currents in the neuroblastoma N1E-115 cell line, applying whole-cell voltage clamp methods.

The sensitivity of sodium channels in immature and mature rat CA1 neurones to the local anaesthetics procaine and lidocaine.

Sodium currents were recorded in CA1 hippocampal cells from new-born (P(4-10)) and older (P(>22)) rats, using whole-cell voltage clamp techniques. The effects of local anaesthetics (procaine and lidocaine) were studied in both cell populations. Parameters defining steady-state inactivation, removal of inactivation and the affinity of the anaesthetic molecules to the inactivated state were determined at both stages of maturation.