Common anesthetic agents can be harmful for the development of the fetus

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-12/v-c121312.php

Public release date: 13-Dec-2012
Contact: Maria Hrynkiewicz
Versita

An anesthetic regimen typically used during surgery on pregnant mothers appears to have a negative effect on the development of the fetus, according to a new study on mice conducted by neurobiologists from the National Center for Toxicological Research, in Arizona.

In the article 'Inhalation Anesthesia-Induced Neuronal Damage and Gene Expression Changes in Developing Rat Brain' published earlier this month in Systems Pharmacology, an open access journal by Versita – Dr. Fang Liu and Dr. Cheng Wang describe the effect of major, commonly used anesthetic compounds – Nitrous Oxide (N2O), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, and isoflurane (ISO) on the developing brain of post-natal rats. Looking into the mechanisms through which N2O + ISO cause neurotoxicity in the developing brain, the authors suggest multiple factors are involved in neuronal cell death inducing effects (cascades) of N2O + ISO.

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