Sawamura S, Kingery WS, Davies MF, Agashe GS, Clark JD, Kobilka BK, Hashimoto T, Maze M (2000) Antinociceptive action of nitrous oxide is mediated by stimulation of noradrenergic neurons in the brainstem and activation of a2B adrenoceptors. J Neurosci 20(24):9242-9251. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.20-24-09242.2000
Summary: Nitrous oxide has been used extensively in surgical anesthesia for more than 150 years, but the molecular mechanism of action has not yet been defined. Sawamura et al. investigate whether noradrenergic neurons in the brainstem are involved in the analgesic action of nitrous oxide. The authors injected rats with anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03) to destroy pontine noradrenergic neurons. The treated rats demonstrated the usual sedative effects of nitrous oxide, but the analgesic effects were reduced or blocked. Coupled with data from null mice for the alpha2B adrenoceptor, the data indicates that alpha2 adrenoceptor subtypes and ligands are involved in the analgesic but not sedative effects of nitrous oxide.
Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)