Effects of desflurane on delayed rectifier potassium currents in rat parietal cortical neurons

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of desflurane on the delayed rectifier potassium current (Ik ) in acutely dissociated rat parietal cortical neurons. Methods Wistar rats between 10- and 14-day old of both sexes were used. The parietal cortical neurons were acutely dissociated enzymatically. The extracellular fluid saturated with 0.3,0.6 and 0.9 mmol/L desflurane was added to the culture dish, then the effects of different concentrations of desflurane on Ik were investigated by using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique in acutely dissociated rat parietal cortical neurons. Results IK was inhibited by desflurane in a concentration-dependent manner ( P ＜0.01). The V1/2 of the activation and inactivation curves and the slop factor had no change after giving 0.6 mmol/L desflurane (P ＞ 0.05). Conclusion Desflurane inhibits delayed rectifier potassium channels of parietal cortical neurons of rats in a concentration-dependent manner, and has no effect on the activation and inactivation of delayed rectifier potassium channels, indicating that the change in the excitability of the channel is not involved in the mechanism of inhibitory effect of desflurane, and the other reasons may be involved in the mechanism. Key words: Potassium channels; Parietal lobe; Neurons; Desflurane