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Published on: April 7, 2021
Carfentanil Depresses Inspiratory Motor Drive
Jianguo Zhuang1, Xiuping Gao1, Shan Shi1
1Department of Physiology, Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, USA.
Carfentanil significantly suppresses inspiratory motor drive, reducing phrenic nerve activity and impairing ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia. This opioid effect contributes to carfentanil-induced respiratory depression and failure.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Respiratory Physiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Carfentanil exposure can cause severe ventilatory depression, but its isolated effect on inspiratory motor drive is unknown.
- Opioids are known to inhibit ventilation during hypoxia and hypercapnia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of carfentanil on phrenic nerve activity.
- To determine carfentanil's effects on respiratory responses during hypoxia and hypercapnia.
Main Methods:
- Anesthetized rats were exposed to aerosolized carfentanil or vehicle.
- Phrenic nerve activity, blood pressure, and heart rate were recorded before and during hypoxia and hypercapnia.
- Chemoreflex responses were assessed after vagotomy, paralysis, and artificial ventilation.
Main Results:
- Carfentanil reduced minute phrenic nerve activity (MPN) and integrated phrenic nerve activity (∫PN) by approximately 50%, causing hypertension.
- Hypoxia and hypercapnia increased PN activity in control rats but were significantly attenuated by carfentanil.
- Carfentanil exacerbated hypotension during hypoxia and bradycardia during hypercapnia.
Conclusions:
- Carfentanil significantly suppresses inspiratory motor drive.
- Carfentanil attenuates chemoreflex responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia.
- These effects contribute to carfentanil-induced ventilatory depression and failure.
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