Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Adaptation of Microelectrode Array Technology for the Study of Anesthesia-induced Neurotoxicity in the Intact Piglet Brain
08:23

Adaptation of Microelectrode Array Technology for the Study of Anesthesia-induced Neurotoxicity in the Intact Piglet Brain

Published on: May 12, 2018

Considerations for the use of anesthetics in neurotoxicity studies

Sumedha W Karmarkar1, Kathleen M Bottum, Shelley A Tischkau

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA.

Comparative Medicine
|September 8, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Anesthetics used in research can alter neurotoxicity and neuroprotection outcomes. This review suggests experimental designs and methods to minimize these unintended anesthetic effects in animal studies.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Experimental Surgery

Background:

  • Anesthetics are crucial tools in neuroscience research for studying neurotoxicity and neuroprotection.
  • However, anesthetic agents can significantly confound experimental results by altering neuronal survival and death pathways.
  • Understanding these effects is vital for accurate research interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects of commonly used anesthetics.
  • To provide recommendations for minimizing unintended consequences of anesthetics in experimental research.
  • To discuss humane animal euthanasia methods that avoid anesthetic interference.

Main Methods:

  • Summarized neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects of isoflurane, dexmedetomidine, propofol, ketamine, barbiturates, halothane, xenon, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide.
  • Discussed relevant cell signaling pathways affected by these anesthetics.
  • Considered anesthetic-free methods for humane animal euthanasia.

Main Results:

  • Most anesthetics impact neuronal survival and death processes.
  • Anesthesia can interfere with the assessment of neurotoxicity and neuroprotection.
  • Specific experimental controls and timing are necessary to mitigate anesthetic interference.

Conclusions:

  • Careful experimental design is essential when using anesthetics in neurotoxicity and neuroprotection studies.
  • Implementing appropriate controls, including sham surgeries and varied anesthetic agents, is recommended.
  • Anesthetic-free euthanasia methods should be considered where applicable to avoid confounding results.

More Related Videos

Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity (AIDN): A Translational Neuroscience Approach06:38

Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity (AIDN): A Translational Neuroscience Approach

Published on: June 11, 2017

Lateral Chronic Cranial Window Preparation Enables In Vivo Observation Following Distal Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Mice08:41

Lateral Chronic Cranial Window Preparation Enables In Vivo Observation Following Distal Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Mice

Published on: December 29, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects01:12

Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects

While local anesthetics are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can occasionally cause adverse effects that vary in severity. Local anesthetics can induce toxicity at two distinct levels. They can either produce local effects through direct contact with the neural elements or be absorbed into the bloodstream from the injection site, leading to systemic effects.
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Toxicity Testing in Animals01:23

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
General Anesthesia: Overview01:24

General Anesthesia: Overview

Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview01:20

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview

Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...