Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
14:52

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers

Published on: January 13, 2018

Molecular and toxicogenetic safety profile of short-term nitrous oxide anesthesia in surgical patients

Juliana R Lara1, Flávia R Nogueira1, C-Y Oliver Chen2

  • 1São Paulo State University (UNESP), Medical School, Division of Anesthesiology, GENOTOX Lab, Botucatu, Brazil.

Molecular Biology Reports
|July 1, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Short-term nitrous oxide (N2O) anesthesia is safe for genomic stability and vitamin metabolism in healthy adults. The anesthetic did not cause DNA damage or alter key metabolic markers during minimally invasive procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

  • Nitrous oxide (N2O) anesthesia raises concerns regarding genomic stability due to potential disruption of vitamin B12 and folate metabolism.
  • N2O's ability to oxidize cobalamin may impair methionine synthase, theoretically leading to DNA damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the toxicogenetic impact (DNA damage, gene expression) and metabolic profile (vitamins B9, B12, homocysteine, antioxidants) of short-term N2O anesthesia.
  • To assess the safety of N2O regarding genomic integrity and vitamin metabolism in patients undergoing anesthesia.

Main Methods:

  • Adult surgical patients (n=18/group) received desflurane, with one group also receiving N2O for 1.5 hours.
  • Assessed DNA strand breaks (comet assay), gene expression (RT-qPCR for OGG1, XRCC1, HO-1), and metabolic markers (HPLC, chemiluminescence).
  • Measurements taken pre-anesthesia, during anesthesia, and 24 hours post-anesthesia.

Main Results:

  • N2O exposure did not affect mRNA expression of repair or antioxidant genes.
  • No significant alterations in homocysteine, vitamin B9, vitamin B12, or antioxidant levels were observed.
  • A transient, surgery-related increase in DNA damage occurred, independent of N2O exposure.

Conclusions:

  • 1.5 hours of N2O anesthesia is safe for genomic integrity and vitamin B metabolism in healthy individuals.
  • Findings support the continued use of N2O in minimally invasive procedures.
  • No acute toxicogenetic or metabolic impairment was detected with short-term N2O use.
Keywords:
AntioxidantB vitaminsDNA damageGene expressionHomocysteineNitrous oxide

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