The hypnotic effect of propofol involves inhibition of GABAergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. Issue 14 (9th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shi, Yihua; Xiao, Deshuang; Dai, Lingbo; Si, Yongyu; Fang, Qian; Wei, Xing
• Is Part Of: NeuroReport. Volume 30:Issue 14(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10-09
• Subjects: GABAergic neurons -- lateral hypothalamus -- propofol; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Nervous System Physiological Phenomena -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; 616.805
• DOI: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000001292
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4965

Abstract

Abstract : Propofol is widely used for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia, which causes a rapid loss of consciousness. So far the mechanisms underlying the effect of propofol are still largely unknown. Here, we found that microinjection of propofol in the lateral hypothalamus caused a significant decrease in wakefulness and an increase in the amount of non-rapid eye movement sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. Application of propofol in the lateral hypothalamus affected the electroencephalogram power spectra with a decrease in theta oscillations and an increase in the delta oscillations. Additionally, using whole-cell patch clamp recording, we found propofol inhibited the excitability of the GABAergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus, which plays a critical role in controlling wakefulness. Altogether, these findings indicate that propofol targets lateral hypothalamus and generates a hypnotic state, which might involve the inhibition of GABAergic neurons. These results provide a novel mechanism to explain propofol-elicited anaesthesia.