Sevoflurane blocks cholinergic synaptic transmission postsynaptically but does not affect short-term potentiation

As compared with their effects on both inhibitory and excitatory synapses, little is known about the mechanisms by which general anesthetics affect synaptic plasticity that forms the basis for learning and memory at the cellular level. To test whether clinically relevant concentrations of sevoflurane affect short-term potentiation involving cholinergic synaptic transmission, the soma-soma synapses between identified, postsynaptic neurons were used.

Uniquely identifiable neurons visceral dorsal 4 (presynaptic) and left pedal dorsal 1 (postsynaptic) of the mollusk Lymnaea stagnalis were isolated from the intact ganglion and paired overnight in a soma-soma configuration. Simultaneous intracellular recordings coupled with fluorescent imaging of the FM1-43 dye were made in either the absence or the presence of sevoflurane.

Cholinergic synapses, similar to those observed in vivo, developed between the neurons, and the synaptic transmission exhibited classic short-term, posttetanic potentiation. Action potential-induced (visceral dorsal 4), 1:1 excitatory postsynaptic potentials were reversibly and significantly suppressed by sevoflurane in a concentration-dependent manner. Fluorescent imaging with the dye FM1-43 revealed that sevoflurane did not affect presynaptic exocytosis or endocytosis; instead, postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors were blocked in a concentration-dependent manner. To test the hypothesis that sevoflurane affects short-term potentiation, a posttetanic potentiation paradigm was used, and synaptic transmission was examined in either the presence or the absence of sevoflurane. Although 1.5% sevoflurane significantly reduced synaptic transmission between the paired cells, it did not affect the formation or retention of posttetanic potentiation at this synapse.

This study demonstrates that sevoflurane blocks cholinergic synaptic transmission postsynaptically but does not affect short-term synaptic plasticity at the visceral dorsal 4-left pedal dorsal 1 synapse.