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Naturally occurring variability in anesthetic potency among inbred mouse strains
1Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0464, USA. sonnerj@anesthesia.ucsf.edu
Unlabelled:
We measured the naturally occurring variability in anesthetic potency, defined by the minimum alveolar anesthetic concentrations (MACs) of inhaled anesthetics required to produce immobility in response to noxious stimuli, in seven widely used laboratory mouse strains. To these data, we added similar data for eight other mouse strains. The average MAC values for each anesthetic for the 15 strains were normally distributed, with a coefficient of variation (ratio of SD to mean) of 0.1. The range of MAC values was 39% for desflurane, 44% for isoflurane, and 55% for halothane. MAC values were highly reliable, with approximately 1% of the variance in MAC measurements for the strains being explained by measurement error. One hundred forty-six statistically significant differences among the 15 strains were found for the three inhaled anesthetics (isoflurane, desflurane, and halothane). Our results suggest that multiple genes underlie the observed variability in anesthetic potency.
Implications:
Laboratory mouse strains differ significantly in susceptibility to anesthetics. These phenotypic differences may be exploited to help determine the genetic basis of anesthetic-induced immobility.
Insights
Laboratory mice show significant differences in anesthetic potency, measured by minimum alveolar anesthetic concentrations (MACs). These variations across mouse strains may help identify genes influencing anesthetic responses.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Genetics
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Anesthetic potency varies among individuals.
- Minimum alveolar anesthetic concentrations (MACs) quantify anesthetic potency.
- Understanding genetic influences on anesthetic response is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure and compare anesthetic potency across diverse laboratory mouse strains.
- To investigate the genetic basis of variability in anesthetic responses.
Main Methods:
- Measured minimum alveolar anesthetic concentrations (MACs) for isoflurane, desflurane, and halothane.
- Utilized 15 different laboratory mouse strains.
- Analyzed data for statistically significant differences in MAC values.
Main Results:
- Significant variability in MAC values was observed across 15 mouse strains for three inhaled anesthetics.
- Average MAC values were normally distributed with a coefficient of variation of 0.1.
- 146 statistically significant strain-specific differences in anesthetic potency were identified.
Conclusions:
- Laboratory mouse strains exhibit substantial differences in anesthetic susceptibility.
- These phenotypic variations offer a valuable resource for elucidating the genetic underpinnings of anesthetic-induced immobility.