Rapid communication
Isoflurane anesthesia is stereoselective

https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-2999(92)90875-5Get rights and content

Abstract

The anesthetic effects of the (+) and (−) isomers of isoflurane were determined in mice. Like the clinically important racemate, both isomers produced dose-dependent increases in anesthetic sleep time. A statistically significant (P < 0.005, ANOVA) difference in the potencies of these isomers ((+) > (−)) was observed. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a stereospecific action of a volatile anesthetic in vivo.

References (8)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (85)

  • Electrophysiological-mechanical coupling in the neuronal membrane and its role in ultrasound neuromodulation and general anaesthesia

    2019, Acta Biomaterialia
    Citation Excerpt :

    For instance, although the luciferase model was instrumental in suggesting that general anaesthetics could have direct competitive inhibitory effects on enzymatic functions, it is not an adequate model to explain pressure reversal [220]. The anaesthetic potency of isoflurane [129,194] varies between its two stereoisomers as does their ability to modulate GABAA receptor opening [213]. Similar effects are found with other chiral anaesthetic agents such as ketamine.

  • Isoflurane does not aggregate inside POPC bilayers at high pressure: Implications for pressure reversal of general anaesthesia

    2015, Chemical Physics Letters
    Citation Excerpt :

    Pharmacodynamic effects are site-specific. This possibility was supported by the finding that general anaesthetics were found to be enantiospecific, but this enantiospecificity cannot be accounted for by their effects on the cell membrane [29–32]. The membrane is thus unlikely to be the site of action of general anaesthetics.

  • Biophysical changes induced by xenon on phospholipid bilayers

    2013, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
    Citation Excerpt :

    However, specific protein targets for a lipid membrane-mediated mechanism of general anesthetic action have not been proposed so this mechanism remains speculative. Furthermore, as of yet, Cantor's lateral pressure profile hypothesis does not account for the fact that some general anesthetic agents, such as isoflurane [98,99], are chiral molecules, with different enantiomers exhibiting different anesthetic potencies. While chiral molecules do exist in many membranes, no lipid membrane-mediated mechanism accounting for the observed stereospecificity has been proposed [42].

  • A possible molecular mechanism for the pressure reversal of general anaesthetics: Aggregation of halothane in POPC bilayers at high pressure

    2012, Chemical Physics Letters
    Citation Excerpt :

    Since the sites of action of chlorpromazine and lignocaine are known to be different from the putative site of action of general anaesthetics, it appears that pressure reversal is a pharmacokinetic effect, rather than a pharmacodynamic effect. This possibility was supported by the finding that general anaesthetics were found to be stereospecific, but this stereospecificity cannot be accounted for by their effects on the cell membrane [33–36]. The membrane is thus unlikely to be the site of action of general anaesthetics.

View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text