Modulation of coherent oscillations in inhibitory networks by anesthetics

Abstract

Experiments in cultured hippocampal cells show that the anesthetic propofol enhances inhibition through its action on the GABA A channel. Inhibitory networks have been shown to synchronize in the 20– 80 Hz range, and this activity correlates with some cognitive functions. We examined the effect of propofol on synchronous activity in model networks connected by GABAergic synapses. A kinetic model of the GABA A channel including the effect of propofol was used. Propofol modified the range of inputs for which synchronous activity is observed, and we show here that this effect is independent of network size. These results show that propofol can disrupt synchronized gamma oscillations in neuronal networks.