Depresión de la función miocárdica inducida por propofol: posible participación del receptor colinérgico muscarínico auricular

Abstract

To investigate the possible role of muscarinic cholinergic receptors (MCRs) in the depression of myocardial function induced by propofol, an intravenous anesthetic chemically unrelated to other drugs. Although adverse effects are rare, bradycardia has been reported and this can lead to cardiac arrest in some patients. The mechanism behind this effect is still unknown but a possible role for MCRs has been suggested. The interaction of propofol with human atrial MCRs was determined by means of inhibition tests using [3H] quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H] QNB). The displacement of [3H] QNB binding to human atrial MCRs by propofol was concentration dependent but the observed effect was not consistent with a model of simple competition between propofol and [3H] QNB. Propofol appears to have the ability to modify the activity of human atrial MCRs and this effect may be related to its ability to induce bradycardia.