Indirect activation of adenosine A1 receptors in cultured rat hippocampal neurons by volatile anaesthetics

Effects of sevoflurane and adenosine receptor antagonist on the sugammadex-induced recovery from rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in rodent phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm tissue specimens

Sevoflurane affects on the A1 receptor in the central nervous system and potentiates the action of neuromuscular blocking agents. In the present study, we investigated whether sevoflurane (SEVO) has the ability to potentiate the neuromuscular blocking effect of rocuronium and if the specific antagonist of adenosine receptor (SLV320) can reverse this effect. In this study, phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm tissue specimens were obtained from 40 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The specimens were immersed in an organ bath filled with Krebs buffer and stimulated by a train-of-four (TOF) pattern using indirect supramaximal stimulation at 20 s intervals. The specimens were randomly allocated to control, 2-chloroadenosine (CADO), SEVO, or SLV320 + SEVO groups. In the CADO and SLV320 + SEVO groups, CADO and SLV320 were added to the organ bath from the start to a concentration of 10 μM and 10 nM, respectively. We then proceeded with rocuronium-induced blockade of >95% depression of the first twitch tension of TOF (T1) and TOF ratio (TOFR). In the SEVO and SLV320 + SEVO groups, SEVO was added to the Krebs buffer solution to concentration of 400-500 μM for 10 min. Sugammadex-induced T1 and TOFR recovery was monitored for 30 min until >95% of T1 and >0.9 of TOFR were confirmed, and the recovery pattern was compared by plotting these data. T1 recovery in the SEVO and CADO groups was significantly delayed compared with the control and SLV320 + SEVO groups (p < .05). In conclusion, sevoflurane affects on the A1 receptor at the neuromuscular junction and delays sugammadex-induced recovery from neuromuscular blockade.

Effects of adenosine receptor agonist on the rocuroniuminduced neuromuscular block and sugammadex-induced recovery

Background

Several types of receptors are found at neuromuscular presynaptic membranes. Presynaptic inhibitory A₁ and facilitatory A_2A receptors mediate different modulatory functions on acetylcholine release. This study investigated whether adenosine A₁ receptor agonist contributes to the first twitch tension (T1) of train-of-four (TOF) stimulation depression and TOF fade during rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade, and sugammadex-induced recovery.

Methods

Phrenic nerve-diaphragm tissues were obtained from 30 adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Each tissue specimen was randomly allocated to either control group or 2-chloroadenosine (CADO, 10 μM) group. One hour of reaction time was allowed before initiating main experimental data collection. Loading and boost doses of rocuronium were sequentially administered until > 95% depression of the T1 was achieved. After confirming that there was no T1 twitch tension response, 15 min of resting time was allowed, after which sugammadex was administered. Recovery profiles (T1, TOF ratio [TOFR], and recovery index) were collected for 1 h and compared between groups.

Results

There were statistically significant differences on amount of rocuronium (actually used during experiment), TOFR changes during concentration-response of rocuronium (P = 0.04), and recovery profiles (P < 0.01) of CADO group comparing with the control group. However, at the initial phase of this experiment, dose-response of rocuronium in each group demonstrated no statistically significant differences (P = 0.12).

Conclusions

The adenosine A₁ receptor agonist (CADO) influenced the TOFR and the recovery profile. After activating adenosine receptor, sugammadex-induced recovery from rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block was delayed.

Isoflurane anesthesia in aged mice and effects of A1 adenosine receptors on cognitive impairment

AIMS

Isoflurane may not only accelerate the process of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but increase the risk of incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study was designed to investigate whether isoflurane contributed to the POCD occurrence through A1 adenosine receptor (A1AR) in aged mice.

METHODS

We assessed cognitive function of mice with Morris water maze (MWM) and then measured expression level of two AD biomarkers (P-tau and Aβ) and a subtype of the NMDA receptor (NR2B) in aged wild-type (WT) and homozygous A1 adenosine receptor (A1AR) knockout (KO) mice at baseline and after they were exposed to isoflurane (1.4% for 2 hours).

RESULTS

For cognitive test, WT mice with isoflurane exposure performed worse than the WT mice without isoflurane exposure. However, A1AR KO mice with isoflurane exposure performed better than WT mice with isoflurane exposure. WT mice exposed to isoflurane had increased levels of Aβ and phosphorylated tau (P-tau). Levels of Aβ and P-tau were decreased in A1AR KO mice, whereas no differences were noted between KO mice with and without isoflurane exposure. NR2B expression was inversely related to that of P-tau, with no differences found between KO mice with and without isoflurane exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

We found an association between isoflurane exposure, impairment of spatial memory, decreasing level of NR2B, and increasing levels of A-beta and P-tau, presumably via the activation of the A1A receptor.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Heme Oxygenase-1 Depend on Adenosine A2A- and A2B-Receptor Signaling in Acute Pulmonary Inflammation

Acute pulmonary inflammation is still a frightening complication in intensive care units. In our previous study, we determined that heme oxygenase (HO)-1 had anti-inflammatory effects in pulmonary inflammation. Recent literature has emphasized a link between HO-1 and the nucleotide adenosine. Since adenosine A_2A- and A_2B-receptors play a pivotal role in pulmonary inflammation, we investigated their link to the enzyme HO-1. In a murine model of pulmonary inflammation, the activation of HO-1 by hemin significantly decreased polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) migration into the lung. This anti-inflammatory reduction of PMN migration was abolished in A_2A- and A_2B-knockout mice. Administration of hemin significantly reduced chemokine levels in the BAL of wild-type animals but had no effects in A_2A^-/- and A_2B^-/- mice. Microvascular permeability was significantly attenuated in HO-1-stimulated wild-type mice, but not in A_2A^-/- and A_2B^-/- mice. The activity of HO-1 rose after LPS inhalation in wild-type animals and, surprisingly, also in A_2A^-/- and A_2B^-/- mice after the additional administration of hemin. Immunofluorescence images of animals revealed alveolar macrophages to be the major source of HO-1 activity in both knockout strains—in contrast to wild-type animals, where HO-1 was also significantly augmented in the lung tissue. In vitro studies on PMN migration further confirmed our in vivo findings. In conclusion, we linked the anti-inflammatory effects of HO-1 to functional A_2A/A_2B-receptor signaling under conditions of pulmonary inflammation. Our findings may explain why targeting HO-1 in acute pulmonary inflammation has failed to prove effective in some patients, since septic patients have altered adenosine receptor expression.

General anesthetics as a factor of effective neuroprotection in ischemic stroke models

Stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world. Unfortunately, only a few drugs have been proved in clinical trials. Drug development of the last decade has been focused substantially on a promising and heterogeneous group of neuroprotective drugs. Hundreds of compounds were suggested as new putative neuroprotectors, which effectiveness was confirmed in preclinical trials only. At the present time discrepancy between results of preclinical studies and clinical trials requires careful analysis. One of the least evaluated and probably the most noticeable reasons is general anesthesia - an obligatory component of an overwhelming majority of existing animal stroke models. The aim of the review is to describe known mechanisms of common general anesthetics influence on ionotropic and metabotropic plasma membrane receptors, and key signal pathways involved in neuronal hypoxic-ischemic injury and survival

Effects of aminophylline on cognitive recovery after sevoflurane anesthesia

PURPOSE

Aminophylline accelerates the recovery from sevoflurane anesthesia. We studied the effects of escalating doses of aminophylline on cognitive and clinical recovery after sevoflurane anesthesia.

METHODS

After ethical approval and informed consent, 150 patients scheduled for elective surgery under sevoflurane-fentanyl anesthesia were randomly allocated to receive saline or 2, 3, 4 or 5 mg/kg of aminophylline (n = 30 for each) at the end of anesthesia (T (0)). Short Orientation Memory Concentration Test (SOMCT) scores, entropy values, end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations (EtSevo), times to eyes opening and extubation, respiratory rate (RR) and tidal volume (TV) were recorded.

RESULTS

Compared to placebo, patients receiving 2, 3, 4 and 5 mg/kg of aminophylline had higher SOMCT scores [median (25th percentile/75th percentile) 20.6 (19/23), 21.5 (21/22), 24.5 (24-25), 25.5 (25/26), respectively, vs. 13.5 (13/14) at 30 min after extubation, and 24 (22/26), 25 (24/26), 27.5 (27-28), 27.5 (27/28), respectively, vs. 18.5 (18/19) at 45 min after extubation], higher entropy values for the first 10 min after T (0), lower EtSevo for the first 4 min after T (0), shorter times to eyes opening [5 (4.0/6.0), 5 (4.0/6.0), 4 (2.0/5.5), and 4 (2.0/6.0), respectively, vs. 9.8 (8.0/11.0) min], shorter times to extubation, shorter times to home discharge (P < 0.001), and higher RR and larger TV values. Patients who received 4 and 5 mg/kg of aminophylline showed higher SOMCT scores, 6 min shorter times to eyes opening and to extubation, and 58 min shorter times to home discharge.

CONCLUSION

The administration of escalating doses of aminophylline accelerates postoperative cognitive recovery from sevoflurane anesthesia, as measured by the SOMCT, due to increased ventilatory elimination of sevoflurane.

Isoflurane-induced changes in righting response and breathing are modulated by RGS proteins

BACKGROUND

Recent evidence suggests that G protein-coupled receptors, especially those linked to G(alpha)(i), contribute to the mechanisms of anesthetic action. Regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins bind to activated G(alpha)(i) and inhibit signal transduction. Genomic knock-in mice with an RGS-insensitive G(alpha)(i2) G184S (G(alpha)(i2) GS) allele exhibit enhanced G(alpha)(i2) signaling and provide a novel approach for investigating the role of G(alpha)(i2) signaling and RGS proteins in general anesthesia.

METHODS

We anesthetized homozygous G(alpha)(i2) GS/GS and wild-type (WT) mice with isoflurane and quantified time (in seconds) to loss and resumption of righting response. During recovery from isoflurane anesthesia, breathing was quantified in a plethysmography chamber for both lines of mice.

RESULTS

G(alpha)(i2) GS/GS mice required significantly less time for loss of righting and significantly more time for resumption of righting than WT mice. During recovery from isoflurane anesthesia, G(alpha)(i2) GS/GS mice exhibited significantly greater respiratory depression. Poincaré analyses show that GS/GS mice have diminished respiratory variability compared with WT mice.

CONCLUSION

Modulation of G(alpha)(i2) signaling by RGS proteins alters loss and resumption of wakefulness and state-dependent changes in breathing.