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Effects of α2-adrenoceptor agonists on tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ channels in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2007

A. Oda
Affiliation:
Gifu UniversityGraduate School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gifu, Japan
H. Iida*
Affiliation:
Gifu UniversityGraduate School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gifu, Japan
S. Tanahashi
Affiliation:
Gifu UniversityGraduate School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gifu, Japan
Y. Osawa
Affiliation:
Gifu UniversityGraduate School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gifu, Japan
S. Yamaguchi
Affiliation:
Gifu UniversityGraduate School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gifu, Japan
S. Dohi
Affiliation:
Gifu UniversityGraduate School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gifu, Japan
*
Correspondence to: Hiroki Iida, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu City, Gifu 501-1194, Japan. E-mail: [email protected]; Tel: +81 58 230 6404; Fax: +81 58 230 6405
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Summary

Background and objective

When intrathecally or epidurally administered, α2-adrenoceptor agonists produce potent antinociception by affecting the activity of primary afferent fibres and spinal cord neurons. Recent reports have indicated that in dorsal root ganglion neurons, tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ channels play important roles in the conduction of nociceptive sensation. We therefore investigated the effects of α2-adrenoceptor agonists on tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ currents.

Methods

Using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, we recorded tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ currents from rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Results

Both clonidine and dexmedetomidine reduced the peak amplitude of the tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ current concentration- and use-dependently. The concentration required for a half-maximal effect was significantly lower for dexmedetomidine (58.0 ± 10.2 μmol) than for clonidine (257.2 ± 30.9 μmol) at holding potential −70 mV. The current inhibitions induced by these agonists were not prevented by 1 μmol yohimbine, an α2-adrenoceptor antagonist. Both clonidine and dexmedetomidine shifted the inactivation curve for the tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ current in the hyperpolarizing direction. The combinations clonidine with lidocaine and dexmedetomidine with lidocaine produced an additive blockade-type interaction on the tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ current.

Conclusions

The results suggest that a direct inhibition of tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ channels may contribute to the antinociceptive effects of clonidine and dexmedetomidine when used as additives to regional anaesthesia.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
Copyright © European Society of Anaesthesiology 2007

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Footnotes

*

Presented in part at the annual meeting of the International Anesthesia Research Society, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA (2001).

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