LAUSR

BACKGROUND The neurobiological mechanisms underlying how general anesthetics render a patient's unconsciousness (hypnosis) remains elusive. The role of the cerebellum in hypnosis induced by general anesthetics is unknown. Gabra6100Q allele Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats have a naturally occurring single nucleotide polymorphism in the GABAA receptor α6 subunit gene that is expressed exclusively in cerebellum granule cells. METHODS We examined the loss of righting reflex (LORR) induced by isoflurane, and ethanol in Gabra6100Q rats compared with those in wild type (WT) SD rats. We also examined the change of c-Fos expression induced by isoflurane exposure in cerebellum granule cells of both mutant and WT rats. RESULTS Gabra6100Q rats are more sensitive than WT rats to the LORR induced by isoflurane and ethanol. Moreover, isoflurane exposure induced a greater reduction in c-Fos expression in cerebellum granule cells of Gabra6100Q rats than WT rats. CONCLUSIONS Based on these data, we speculate that cerebellum may be involved in the hypnosis induced by some general anesthetics and thus may represent a novel target of general anesthetics.